RSUST Recalls Degree Certificates …To Probe Illegal Waivers

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari conferring with her Press Secretary, Mr Dike Onyije (middle) during official launch of Rivers Brand, With them is Director of Publicity in the ministry, Mr Paulinus Nsirim, at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.

Some graduates of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Port Harcourt, who reportedly failed some courses but had such courses waived to enable them graduate are in for a rude shock as the university authorities have been directed to recall the degree certificates issued to them.

Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who gave the directive Wednesday night while speaking at the formal unveiling of the Rivers State brand at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, said such affected graduates would be recalled to return to the University to resit the exams they failed. The exercise would affect graduates who had left the university in the past five and seven years.

The governor, who is the visitor to the university, explained that the move was part of decisions reached at the recently concluded Education Retreat in Calabar where it was decided that any form of fraud or exam malpractice in the educational system in the state should be punished, to enable the image of the state educational system to change.

On the current strike by RSUST chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Governor Amaechi said a visitation panel would be constituted to look into the affairs of the university, with a view to tackling the issue of incessant industrial actions by lecturers of the institution, who are receiving attractive salaries, compared to their counterparts in other state-owned universities.

“Lecturers cannot continue to blackmail Rivers people annually with strike for the selfish reason of their pockets,” Governor Amaechi declared.

He appealed to students of the university to exercise some patience with the discomfort of the present situation, as government was determined to tackle this issue once-and-for-all, in the interest and future of our children.

The governor expressed dismay that the university lecturers had never gone on strike over the absence of basic educational equipment in the school, but rather prefer to blackmail the entire state over their emoluments, which the state had always paid promptly.

The Brand, which is named “The Taste of Rivers’ was unveiled in a festive mood with fireworks, musical entertainment with top musicians including P-square, Asu Ekiye, home boy Duncan Mighty performing.”

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Prof Barineme Fakae, has said the university has already commenced the review of results five years back through on-line results computerisation programme.

Fakae made this known while speaking at the unveiling of the Rivers State brand at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, Wednesday.

Already, he said the institution had posted about eight years results of students on the net, pointing out that the shortcomings of the past were due to delay in results publication.

With results now on-line, he submitted that it was easy for students to access and know their status every new academic year and it would curtail corrupt practices between the students and lecturers.

Further commenting on the state government’s plans to review waiver results, Prof Fakae said the university had phased out waiver considerations for graduates, adding, “the university’s law expects every student to pass his or her courses, thereby giving birth to qualified and fit graduates.’