Stakeholders Urge Probe Of RSUST

Rivers State stakeholders have called for an investigative panel into the activities of the State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, as a way of staving off the brewing crisis at the institution.

Speaking at a public hearing organised by the State House of Assembly Committee on Education to address ‘the deplorable academic condition in the institution, most of the participants in their submissions contended that the only way to resolve the crisis in the university and reposition it for academic excellence, was to set up an independent panel comprising distinguished academics to investigate the matter.

In his presentation, Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), RSUST chapter, Dr Felix Igwe alleged that there were some irregularities in the institution which had affected smooth academic exercise.

The ASUU boss listed some of the major problems facing the institution to include lack of consultation on the part of the management, use of consultants rather than examination and records department to produce students results, lack of due process in the appointment of the Vice Chancellor, contract awards and retirement of professors and other senior academics. He further identified lack of functionality of the post graduate school, which had stalled academic research in the institution, holding of council meetings without a quorum and stoppage of check-off dues for the union as the bane of the university.

In his presentation, Prof Godwin Tasie, the former Chairman of the 9th Governing Council of the university, called for an independent visitation panel into the crisis to ascertain the true position of things.

Tasie also called on the House Committee to ensure that the November/ December 2007 report on UST was published.

A former Dean of Post Graduate School, Prof Alex Monsi attributed UST crisis to poor management and leadership and alleged that the present authorities at the university had failed on several crucial issues.

Also speaking, a former acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Victor Umuaro said the institutional crisis was due to the collapse of committee system which he said was the hallmark of university administration, and condemned the erosion of the powers of the university senate.

Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) in the university, Mr Chukwu Ebenezer blamed the woes of the school on ‘abuse of powers’ by the management, and called for the dissolution and reconstitution of the university’s governing council.

A senior staff of the university, Mr Leslie Jaja, also called for the dissolution of the present governing council of the university, on the grounds of incompetence and compromise to established university standards.

Also speaking, a serving member of the university governing council, Elder Amabipi Martins, faulted the process of appointment of the present Vice Chancellor of the university, noting that his appointment was not ratified by the council.

Elder Martins also flayed the declining rating of the university, which he said ranked 73 among universities in Nigeria.

In his submission, Comrade Lekia Christian, President, Niger Delta Coalition Against Violence, commended the House Committee for the public hearing, which he said was accommodating various facets of interests in its investigation particularly in attempting to resolve the problem of the institution.

He blamed the situation in UST on the strained relationship between the management of the institution and the respective unions which he said had resulted in bottled up emotions and grievances. He, therefore, advised all stakeholders involved to shift their grounds and make sacrifices in the interest of the state.

Speaking at the public hearing, Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Barineme Fakae, said UST had recorded a considerable improvement in recent times contrary to allegations that the school was witnessing its lowest academic ebb.

Prof Fakae said the spate of criticisms against the school was a systemic way of eroding the autonomy of the university, arguing that only professional bodes and the National Universities Commission (NUC) could assess the school.

Prof Fakae also solicited for a close working relationship with the committee to tackle some of the challenges of the institution.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, who declared the public hearing open had called on participants to make meaningful contributions that would help in addressing the problems of the university. The speaker, who was represented by his deputy, Hon. Leyii Kwane, commended the impressive turn-out of stakeholders for the public hearing.

The chairman of the committee, Hon Augustine Ngo, in his remarks expressed satisfaction over the turn-out for the public hearing, and cautioned against victimization of people who made presentations at the hearing. Hon Ngo also assured that the contributions of stakeholders at the public hearing would be given due attention in the committee’s report.

Taneh Beemene