Education
Commissioner Charges ASUP On Constructive Demands
The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Prof Kaniye Ebeku, has charged members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology Chapter, to engage government constructively whilst making demands.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Commissioner, Faustina Eugene-Nwanekwu, disclosed that Ebeku gave the charge in Port Harcourt when the union paid him a courtesy visit in his office, last Friday.
While urging the union, “to exhaust all channels of dialogue before taking any other steps, if need be”, Ebeku encouraged the new Executive members of the union to work for the benefit of the chapter and the college by “building bridges and mending fences”.
He also congratulated the new Executive on their election, and assured the union of the state government’s commitment in strengthening the education sector, adding that the challenges articulated during the visit would be addressed.
Earlier, Leader of the delegation and Chairman of the chapter, Dr Richard Iloma, said the reason for the visit was to formally present the members of the new Executive to the commissioner.
Iloma expressed willingness of the union to “strengthen existing partnership ties with the ministry in order to provide the needed enabling environment conducive for learning.
“We consider it appropriate to introduce to you the newly inaugurated Chapter Executive Committee of ASUP in Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology, and also explore ways to partner with you and collaborate with your ministry in ensuring that we provide the needed environment conducive for learning and retraining of essential healthcare manpower in the college”, he said.
He assured the commissioner of the union’s readiness to constructively engage the government, noting that “under our reign, we will engage meaningfully. Where there is a need, we will run to you to let you know our challenges”.
Iloma further commended the efforts of the Rivers State Government in upgrading the college to a polytechnic status in 2019 “with all consequential benefits”, and enumerated some challenges the college was facing.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana