The Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Prof Nlerum Okogbule, has warned staff of the institution to desist from sharp and corrupt practices for the good image and smooth running of the university system.
Okogbule gave the warning while declaring open  the capacity building Workshop for senior non-academic Staff held at the University in Port Harcourt, recently.
Okogbule, who noted that the university has zero tolerance for corruption said any staff found guilty of such practice or practices would face the risk of outright dismissal.
While noting that the primary functions of the university include teaching and research, Okogbule stated however that the non-academic staff play vital roles in every citadel of learning and stressed the need for a humane treatment of subordinates and persons within the university.
He said “If you don’t provide a conducive environment, lecturers cannot function very well. So everybody is important in the system. Even when you are dealing with junior staff, treat them as human beings”.
“The positions we hold today are temporal. I will not remain here forever. I will finish my job as Vice Chancellor and still come back as a staff and then, somebody will become the Vice Chancellor and I will bow to the person,” he stated.
The Vice Chancellor said “the university has zero tolerance for corruption. If you say because you are in a particular position and you start collecting N5,000, N10,000 as the case may be from students, when you lose your job between one to five years, you will know what it means.
“So don’t get involved in unethical things because the consequences are dire, including outright dismissal. For the non-academic staff, it is important for them to shun some of the unethical conducts that are pervading in the general society”, he said.
Okogbule urged administrative staff of the institution to take advantage of the workshop to improve on their capacities in the discharge of their duties.