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Recalled RSUST Lecturers Yet To Be Reinstated …As ASUU Protests Proposed Re-Employment Of Fakae
Fifty-two days after the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike directed the management of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) to reinstate lectuers of the university, who had been on strike for about three years, the directive is yet to be carried out to the letter.
Chairman of the RSUST chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Puyate, Suobere Tadaerigha revealed this in an exclusive interview with The Tide, midweek in his office.
Unlike the State High courts which were opened with immediate effect, following the same directive by the Governor during his inaugural speech on Democracy day, May 29, 2015, he said, that the reinstatement and restoration of all rights and privileges of the lectures were yet to be obeyed.
Dr. Puyate stated that the management of RSUST under the leadership of Professor Barimene Fakae has stalled genuine effort by the affected ASUU members to get their due as directed by the Governor.
He explained that following the revelation of the alleged submission of a fake list of lecturers who were on strike to the Governor and the subsequent alarm raised by ASUU over bloated figures of money, there had not been an opportunity for ASUU to meet with the Vice Chancellor to harminise the list.
According to Dr. Puyate, this was the circumstance that led to the ASUU taking what he called “Proactive step”, by seeking to meet with the VC.
“As far as we know, the VC has been dragging his feet. He has not actually implemented the directives of the Governor.
‘The main thing he has been asked to do, which is to recall, reinstate and restate all the rights been on strike, he has not done that. As I speak to you know, we have not earned one Kobo”, he said.
Reacting to this, and comments made over over-bloated figures, the VC explained that the members of ASUU who were sacked do not know the workings of the university.
“Those making these comments have never been examination officers, they don’t even know anything about the University.
The point is that they are even low down lecturers.
“The truth is this, which ever list that was submitted, Government does not pay into a central fund. It pays into the pocket of individuals.
“So, if some mistakes were observed, as it were, they could have come back to administration to say this is where the problem is and then we try to solve the matter.
“it is a complex matter. What exactly do they call the directive that we were given? The people were away from work, we are trying to see how to sort out the problem and then pressure is on us in the midst of every other thing we are doing”, the VC said.
Meanwhile, the Rivers state University of Science and technology (RSUST) Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has kicked against the proposed re-employment of the out-going Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Barimene Fakae, by the University, saying, it runs contrary to the rules and regulations of the University system in Nigeria.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Tide, Chairman of the RSUST Chapter of ASUU, Dr. Suobere Tadaerigha Puyate stated that as a sitting Vice Chancellor, Fakae cannot employ himself as a staff at the expiration of his tenure as VC in RSUST.
According to him, Fakae “has not fulfilled the condition (to be employed). It is wrong because he has not followed the due process.
“if one has been appointed or hired by the government, …. He will always apply for what is called ‘leave of absence’ or secondment, which he will submit to his primary place of employment”, he said.
“If he is allowed, he will leave his office to the new position. After serving in the position, and if he wants to be retained as a staff at the end of his tenureship, he will have to go back to where he came from before applying to be a staff of the new place.
“the due process in a University is that his application will be sent to the ‘Appointment and Promotion Committee’, which will set up an interview panel for him, and he will be screened”, Puyate stated.
“If he is qualified, and satisfies the condition for employment or transfer of service, then he employed. For a sitting VC, he cannot succeed himself or employ himself”, the ASUU Chairman said.
On his part, Professor Fakae stated that there was nothing wrong with him being a staff at the expiration of his tenure as VC of RSUST as long as the Senate has approved his employment.
“I applied for a transfer of service to (Senate) Council, and Council approved. So, what is wrong with it?” Fakae retorted.
However, Puyate emphasised that Council, as stated by Fakae, is not vested with the responsibility of employment.
“What he (Fakae) is doing is tentamount to illegality because it is not Council that endorses one’s transfer of service, it is the Appointment and Promotion Committee (A&PC). When the Appointment and Promotion Committee has gone through its processes, it will pass it on to the registry, then to the registrar, who will formerly issue him an appointment of transfer of service.
“All these have not been done, and I know that Council has not approved his transfer of service. So, he is not a staff of this university”, the ASUU boss added.
Sogbeba Dokubo
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.