Governor Amaechi triggers boycott by varsity teachers

Work stoppage and boycott was observed today in all Nigerian universities, either state-owned or Federally owned.

The powerful union of Nigeria’s university teachers, Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities gave the order for boycott to protest Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s appointment of Professor B. Fakae as acting vice chancellor of Rivers State owned University of Science and Technology.(RSUST)

Governor Amaechi is the visitor to the university and wield some power, because his government also funds the university.

ASUU contends that the appointment did not follow due process and that in any way, Fakae, who had earlier served as the vice chancellor of the university gate-crashed into the system.

ASUU, both at RSUST, and nationally believed that Fakae should not have been appointed a vice chancellor in the first instance. They now consider it as a further ‘pepper’ to injury by his appointment as acting VC when his term expired.

All Nigerian universities took part in the symbolic one-day protest today. But Governor Amaechi, whose action provoked ASUU’s ire, was not around to witness it.

He is away in Germany, along with four other state governors for an investment drive to Nigeria.

ASUU was not deterred by his absence. Chapter after chapter of ASUU berated the governor for his action and want him to reverse his decision.

At a press conference today, the University of Abuja chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) called for the immediate appointment of a substantive vice-chancellor for RSUST.

Dr Clement Chup, the local chairman said the governing council of the institution had earlier commenced the process of appointing a new vice- chancellor before its dissolution by Gov. Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers.

He claimed that Fakae was at the fifth position when the governing council screened candidates for the position before its dissolution.

Chup said Fakae’s appointment was a move to impose him on the lecturers.

The chairman, who called for the immediate removal of Fakae, also demanded the completion of the process of appointing a substantive vice- chancellor for the university.

He also called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the disruption of the congress meeting of ASUU in the university “and the physical assault of the branch chairman.

“We call on the National Executive Council of ASUU to convene as soon as possible to review the situation at RSUST and decide on a further line of action.”

Chup, however, commended the Federal Government over the constitution of a Special Visitation Panel to the University of Abuja and expressed confidence that the report of the panel would address the problems of the institution.

In Nsukka, eastern Nigeria, Dr Aloysius Okolie, Chairman, ASUU, University of Nigeria, directed members of the union to boycott the university’s 69th inaugural lecture and other activities holding today.

Okolie told newsmen at Nsukka that the boycott was to show solidarity with their striking colleagues at Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) over subversion of laws at the university by Rivers Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

“After our congress on Tuesday, we resolved to carry out the one-day solidarity strike in support of ASUU-RSUST strike over misuse of power by that state governor in appointing the vice-chancellor.

“Any ASUU member who attends the 69th inaugural lecture or participates in any activity today in UNN has disobeyed the one-day strike order and will be sanctioned by the union.

“We have communicated our stay away directive on the 69th inaugural lecture to the university management.

“The union’s monitoring team is already at work to fish out erring members,” he said.

According to him, the union has nothing against the lecturer of the 69th inaugural, Prof. Patience Osadebe, but was obeying the national directive of ASUU.

He said ASUU would take further action if after the one-day strike the governing council and the governor failed to obey the laws in the appointment of the vice-chancellor of RSUST.

“National Assembly has a law signed by President Goodluck Jonathan that VCs should spend only single tenure of five years and RSUST will not be an exception.

“The Acting VC, Prof B. Fakae, has no business in RSUST hence he had exhausted his five-year tenure; appointing him for second term amounts to illegality.

“ASUU calls on the good people of Rivers State and Nigeria to prevail on the governor to restore the rule of law and decency in the governance of RSUST.

“We call on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the incident that happened at RSUST on Aug.15, in which some ASUU members were assaulted,” he said.

When contacted, Prof. Obi Njoku, Chairman, UNN Senate Ceremonial Committee, who is in-charge of inaugural lectures, said he was not aware that ASUU-UNN members were boycotting the 69th inaugural lecture.

“I do not have to comment much on this issue because I have not been officially informed.

“It will be unfair if they boycott lecture just because of ASUU’s one-day strike,” he said.