27th October, 2022
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The Rivers State governorship candidate of Accord, Dumo Lulu-Briggs has condemned the ‘no fees, no exams’ policy of the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
He also lashed at Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike for displaying uncaring attitude towards the education of his people, while he goes around the country donating money to state governments and groups.
The governorship candidate has started the process of paying the school fees of over 200 of the affected students, among them final year students who were denied their second semester Examinations because they could not pay their school fees.
Dumo said that the Rivers State Government should protect the interest of Rivers State University students above political considerations.
“The governor should stop the authorities of the Rivers State University from denying students their rights to education. Our students at RSU should not be stopped from taking their exams.
He lashed out at Wike for dashing out money across the country, yet final year students are denied examinations due to their inability to pay fees.
“It is tragic that the Rivers State Governor, who is the Visitor of the University recently dolled out N300 Million to rich women in Lagos, a state that is much richer than Rivers State.
“Recall that in this administration, Rivers State Students on government scholarship were repatriated from overseas universities for not paying fees.
“These situations are unfortunate because the responsibility of government should be to ensure that they educate the next generation
“The Rivers State University by this policy has prolonged the stay of students at the University, especially the final year students who will be made to carry over courses, pay additional fees and unable to go for their national youth service”.
However, Lulu-Briggs called on the students of RSU to be calm and law-abiding and allow the student union leadership to continue dialogue with the school authorities.
The Accord governorship candidate assured that such a situation will not be allowed under his government because education will be given its pride of place.