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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
News
Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.
The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.
CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.
The students, led by Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.
According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.
The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.
Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.
He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.
Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.
The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.
He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.
CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.
He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.
Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.
The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.
The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.
According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.
The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.
Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.
He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.
CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.
The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.
International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.
Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.
He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.
Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.
“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.
Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.
Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.
He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.
According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.
Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.
The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.
Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.
By: John Bibor
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.
Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.
The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.
He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.
Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.
On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.
The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.
Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.
On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.
The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.
Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.
By; King Onunwor