Education
SSANU Demands Reinstatement Of Sacked IAUE Staff, Teachers
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), South – South zone, has called for the immediate reinstatement of the sacked teachers teaching in both staff school and Demonstration Secondary School owned by Ignatius Ajuru University of Education ,Rumuolumini in Port Harcourt.
The National Vice president of SSANU, South-South , Comrade Cheta U. Azumah made this demand when he led other executive members of the union to pay a courtesy visit on the Acting Vice Chancellor of IAUOE, Prof Okechuku Onuchuku in his office in Port Harcourt , recently as part of the proceedings leading to the zonal executive council meeting of the union being hosted by the university in Port Harcourt.
Azumah told the Vice Chancellor that the demand for the reinstatement of the teachers became necessary following the unbearable conditions of the affected categories of the staffs , stressing that most of the workers have lost their parental rights in their various families as result of their inability to provide for their families.
He disclosed that many of the workers are sick and can not pay for both medical and education bills of their children and dependants , adding that they are now leaving on the mercy of their colleagues who contribute two thousand naira as welfare to them every month.
He told his host that the affected staffs won the state government in the courts up to Appeal court and urged him to represent the matter to the state government and the institutions’ Governing Council.
“Vice Chancellor sir,now that we have a new administration in the state and also new governing council for the university, please represent this matter so that these people who have contributed to the development of the institution can not be wirsked off like that.some of them have put in from 30,25,20 years in service .They are now living on the mercy of others and can not provide for their families is not good”,he stated.
The South South SSANU helmsman who doubles as the director Administration at the Rivers State University used the opportunity to expressed the unions appreciations to the management of the institution for regular promotions and efficient welfare policy in the school.
Azumah while commending the vice Chancellor and his management team for the various achievements in the institution urged him to use his office and look in to the issues of upsurbing positions of non teaching staffs in the university by the the teaching staffs cadre , noting that such act doesn’t breed growth and professionalism.
“Let a lecturer sticks to the lecturing work for which he was employed and allow non teaching staffs to also do their work , upsurbing the work of non teaching staffs by lecturers is not good”
He averred that the essence of their zonal executive council meeting been hosted by the university branch was to enable the union look critically at issues confronting the union and see how to advance the course of the union and better the welfare of its teeming members .
In his response,the acting vice Chancellor of IAUOE, prof Okechukwu Onuchukwu welcomed his guest to the school and assured them of their support for the successful meeting in the university.
Onuchukwu told them that he had represented the matter of reinstatement of the sacked teachers to the current governing council of the institution and expressed hope that the matter would be resolved soonest.
“When I assumed office the first thing we did was to look into the matter but we were told that the matter was in the court now that the matter has been out of the court , we had already intimated the new council and it will be looked at and also we will see how we can make those schools not only pay their salary but a source of revenue to the university”he stated.
He assured that staff welfare and providing good working environment at the works place will continue to be the hallmarks of his administration and wished them well in their deliberations.
Earlier at the opening session of the ZEC meeting held at the university auditorium,the branch chairman of SSANU , IAUOE,Comrade Chisa Egu while giving the account of his steward, said his administration currently is building a 1000 capacity sitting conference hall and urged the meeting to deliberate on those issues that will uplift the standard of the members in line with the present economic impacts and realities in the country.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.