Prof. Barineme Fakae


Uchechukwu Nnaike    

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Rivers State University of Science and Technology Chapter, has dissociated itself from the plans by the management of the institution to commence the second semester examinations tomorrow.

Chairman of the union, Dr. Felix Igwe, who spoke confirmed this in a telephone conversation with THISDAY, said the move was contrary to the regulations of the National Universities Commission (NUC), as students were only taught for five weeks, out of the 12-week semester.

The union has been on strike since August 13 to protest the re-appointment of Prof. Barineme Fakae as Vice-Chancellor of the institution by the visitor, Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Igwe quoted the management as saying that the institution’s academic calendar would not be disrupted by the ongoing strike, hence the official announcement of the commencement of the examination. Students were also said to have been informed through text messages.

“This is unfair, as they have not been adequately taught,” he said. “ASUU dissociates itself from the proposed second semester examination and calls on all lecturers and students to resist this act of impunity and imposition of examination on the ill-prepared students. Evil triumphs when good people keep quiet. The need to institutionise due process, rule of law and academic freedom in RSUST is the responsibility of all.”

He expressed concern that the government had not invited the union for any kind of dialogue since the commencement of the strike, but had kept on as if nothing was wrong. “ASUU wonders what kind of examination will be conducted, who will supervise the examination and grade the students.  The strike is still on so academic activities are expected to on hold at the institution.”