News

ASUU’s Blackmailing Us – RSUST

Published

13 years ago

February 15, 2013

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is blackmailing the management of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), by publicly undermining its credibility, an official has said.

The university’s spokesman, Mr Desmond Wosu, told newsmen in an interview in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that ASUU was calling for a sanction to be imposed on the university.

It would be recalled that the National Executive Council of ASUU at a recent meeting in Osun State had called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to sanction the university.

A communiqué issued after the meeting stated that the management of the university disregarded the rights of ASUU members to freedom of association and peaceful assembly in the university.

The communiqué also described RSUST as a university where mediocrity thrived and as such lacked the ability to produce quality graduates.

Wosu said that the university’s chapter of ASUU had refused to follow due-process in notifying the university management before holding its meetings.

He said that other unions in the university had always notified the university management prior to its meetings and as such enjoyed peaceful deliberations.

“The National Executive Council of ASUU is merely blackmailing the management of this university because Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi had said that he followed due-process in the re-appointment of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Prof Barineme Fakae, and if they (ASUU) felt he did not follow due-process, they should go to court”, Wosu said.

“It is unfortunate that ASUU is calling on the National Universities Commission to sanction this university because NUC sent a delegation late last year (2012) to find out whether academic activities were going on here or not.

“They (NUC) found that what they read in the newspapers was different from what is happening here on campus; they saw students sitting examinations, and lecturers administering exams, and were satisfied.

“They wrote us a letter commending the management of this university for not disrupting academic activities and our programmes for last section. “A few lecturers that are out there (on strike); mainly the leadership of ASUU, RSUST branch is carrying-out press war against the management of this university.

“We are calling on a few of them out there to exercise restraint and come back to work because the strike is not supported by the public, students, and more than 85 per cent of ASUU members of this university,” he added.

Wosu said the university would not be distracted by the union, and as such would continue to run its academic programmes in the interest of the country.

Our correspondent also recalls that ASUU and the university administration have been in disagreement over the re-appointment of Prof. Barineme Fakae as the institution’s Vice-Chancellor.

The union had on August, 2012, embarked on a strike action to demand that Governor Chibuike Amaechi follow due-process in the re-appointment of Fakae.

But only a few weeks ago, The Tide investigations revealed that about 95 per cent of the lecturers had since resumed normal academic activities.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.