NUT Suspends Rivers NLC Boss, Two Others

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has suspended the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Rivers State, Comrade Chris Oruge over N45million fraud in Rivers NUT.

Oruge, who was a former chairman of the NUT in Rivers State and the current state representative of the union’s  at the NEC, was suspended along with the state NUT chairman and treasurer, Comrade Moses Adiela and Theophilus Worlu respectively.

A source told The Tide that the suspension which is with immediate effect followed allegation of financial impropriety levelled against the three NUT leaders by the former state secretary of the union, Apostle Samuel Manda.

Manda, who is already in court challenging his transfer to the national secretariat, Abuja and investigation for alleged non-remittance of appropriate check-off dues to the national secretariat of the union reportedly made the revelations in his petition to the NEC.

The Tide investigation revealed that the alleged non-remittance of appropriate check-off dues arose from the payment of the 27.5 per cent pay rise by the state government to teachers.

It was learnt that the implementation of the Teachers Salary Structure (TSS) and Teachers Enhanced Allowance (TEA) increased the union’s check-off dues without the suspended officials informing the national secretariat of the union. The three officials allegedly adopted internal formula of sharing the booty among themselves with the state representative taking 2 percent, chairman 3 percent and the treasurer 2 percent.

The Tide was further told that the union’s national secretariat had directed the suspended officers to refund the alleged non-remittance sum of over N45 million to the union before September 30, 2013.

However, all efforts by The Tide to speak with the suspended NLC boss, Comrade Chris Oruge proved abortive as his mobile phones were switched off. He was also not on seat when The Tide visited the NLC secretariat at D/line, Port Harcourt.

Comrade Adiela was suspended along with the others a day to NUT’s delegates conference in Port Harcourt where he was seeking re-election.

Meanwhile, the NUT deputy chairman, Comrade Chief Godfrey Nwogu is now the union acting state chairman with Dr. Ikechukwu Nwachukwu the state secretary.

It would be recalled that, Apostle Manda’s suit against the NUT which was at Owerri High Court was transferred to Port Harcourt where hearing took place last Monday.

Administrator, Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam (right), with Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Dr Tammy Danagogo (left) and Project Manager, GPHCDA (middle), during a visit to the new Trans-Woji Freeway in Port Harcourt last Monday