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Strike: SSANU Wants Nigerians To Salvage Education Sector

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10 years ago

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L-R: Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, Prof. Charles Ayo, who represented Bishop David Oyedepo, Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University, Prof. Aize Obayan and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University, Prof. Enoch Oyawoye, inaugurating an exhibition, during the 6th matriculation ceremony of the university in Omu-Aran, Kwara State on Friday

L-R: Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, Prof. Charles Ayo, who represented Bishop David Oyedepo, Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University, Prof. Aize Obayan and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University, Prof. Enoch Oyawoye, inaugurating an exhibition, during the 6th matriculation ceremony of the university in Omu-Aran, Kwara State on Friday

The Senior Staff Asso
ciation of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has called on well-meaning Nigerians to back the union’s on-going nationwide indefinite strike in order to salvage the country’s education sector.
Branch Chairman of SSANU in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Comrade Bikume D. Syder made the call in an exclusive interview with The Tide in his office, Friday.
According to him, the call is necessitated by  the need for government to toe the line of reconciling the issues at stake early enough in order to avoid further determination in the nation’s education sector.
The issues at stake, Syder said, are a “directive from (Federal) Government to retrench over 2000 university staff school teachers,” and “forceful imposition of CONMESS/CONHESS on SSANU members in university health service units.”
“There is an order forcefully migrating medical and health workers in the university medical centres from the operational salary structure into a strange salary structure.
“The operational salary structure for the non-teaching staff in the universities is CoNTISS (Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure) into different salary structure like ‘consolidated salary for Health Workers (ConHESS) and Consolidated Medical Salary Structure’ (CONMESS),” he said.
These two positions taken by the federal authorities, Syder explained, negate the 2009 agreement reached by the Federal Government and SSANU “which is re-negotiable at three years intervals.”
Beyond increasing the number of unemployed people in the country, the SSANU boss explained further, the directive also amount to an infringement on the right of Association of SSANU members.
While noting that SSANU had embarked on the strike, which commenced on December 24, 2015, as a last resort, Syder expressed regret over the implications of the strike on what he called “faulty educational system” in the country, but that is essential for the development of education in the country.
“Strikes are usually last resorts. When all attempts to reach out to government has failed, when all attempts to draw government to the negotiation table has failed… last year SSANU embarked on a nation-wide protest to draw the attention of the Federal Government to these issues.
“But it seems that government is either paying lip service to it, or deaf ears to the cry of the university workers. This is what has compelled this strike,  Syder said.
When The Tide visited UNIPORT, normal health services related and administrative activities were at a hault including medical examiniations for students and those of Exams and Records.
The way forward in resolving the issues at stake, according to Syder is the withdrawal of “the Obnoxious Circular, return to status-quo and re-negotiation.
“This is why we are calling on well-meaning Nigerians, including the media, to help us make our case known to the government, and then restore normalcy in the system.

 

Stories by SogbebaDokubo

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Education

Uniport Appoints Prof. Princewill R. Chike as 10th Vice-Chancellor

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2 weeks ago

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June 8, 2026

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The Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt has approved the appointment of Professor Princewill R. Chike as the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University.
Prof. Chike, a former Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, will succeed Prof. Georgewill Owunari whose tenure ends on July 13, 2026.
A statement signed by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Sam Kpenu and made available to _The Tide_, said the appointment was made by the 17th Governing Council following the successful conclusion of the selection process.
“The process was conducted in strict compliance with the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act and the University of Port Harcourt Act,” the statement read.
It added that the process involved the constitution of a Search Team and a Joint Council-Senate Selection Board. Both bodies carried out their responsibilities in accordance with extant laws and regulations governing the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in Nigerian universities.
According to the statement, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, congratulated Professor Chike on his appointment.
Senator Ohuabunwa expressed confidence in Prof. Chike’s ability to provide visionary leadership for the continued growth and development of the University.
Professor Princewill R. Chike is expected to formally assume office as the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt on July 13, 2026.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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Education commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct in Rivers ,, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

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2 weeks ago

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June 8, 2026

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.
 Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation recently during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.
“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.
Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state
 He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.
 “Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.
While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.
 He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process. Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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RSU Law Professor Calls for Periodic Review of Nigeria’s Criminal Laws

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2 weeks ago

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June 8, 2026

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A Professor of Criminal Justice and Law at the Faculty of Law, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt, Prof. Clifford Anaele Nwanyanwu, has advocated for periodic review of the nation’s criminal justice administration laws to reflect current societal needs and challenges.
Prof. Nwanyanwu noted that many of the criminal justice laws in use today date back to the pre-colonial era. He questioned their efficiency in addressing modern criminal justice administration, adding that the complex nature of adjudication often allows crime to thrive.
He made the call while delivering the university’s 132nd Inaugural Lecture on Wednesday at the Senate Conference Auditorium titled: “Society as Criminal Enterprise: Unravelling a Complex Justice System.”
The erudite legal scholar clarified that the lecture was not meant to condemn the country’s justice system. Instead, he said it was intended to highlight areas that require urgent attention.
He expressed concern that criminal justice practice in Nigeria is more dysfunctional than functional, and stressed that he wants to see a system that works effectively for all citizens.
“The essence of criminal justice administration is due process, and anything contrary is not it. Plea bargains help to fast-track trial processes and reduce delays,” he stated.
However, Prof. Nwanyanwu expressed worry that the sums recovered through plea bargain arrangements are often meagre compared to the wealth looted, noting that this contradicts the purpose of the arrangement.
To strengthen the system, he recommended merit-based recruitment of judicial officers with proven character and integrity. He also called for adequate funding, infrastructure development, removal of political interference, and ethical reorientation within the judiciary.
The law professor further recommended that the state should pay compensation to citizens when security officers are found culpable for arbitrary killings, in line with the principle of vicarious liability.
In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, commended the lecturer. He described the lecture as timely and relevant to addressing the nagging challenges of crime in society.
Prof. Zeb-Obipi expressed concern over the justice system’s inability to curb the rising rate of criminal activities in the state. He added that through inaugural lectures, the university continues to provide solution-based approaches to societal challenges.
Our correspondent reports that the thought-provoking lecture was attended by stakeholders in the judicial system, judges, magistrates, scholars, and members of the university community.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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