Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, has directed the Governing Council of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) to recommence the employment process that was cancelled last year because of irregularities.
Fubara gave the directive yesterday, while inaugurating the newly reconstituted governing council of the institution at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Addressing members of the governing council, Fubara warned that they should not go against the initial approval of 869 staff only, with quotas specified for the academic and non-academic staff.
He said the emphasis was on engaging persons on merit, not on any other considerations, explaining that when engaged, such staff would offer the best grooming to students for the good of society.
He said: “I know the good people of Rivers State and the most energetic youths are waiting to hear something from me, and this is about the employment that was cancelled.
“Let me here and now approve the recommencement of employment of members of staff, both academic and non-academic, for Ignatius Ajuru University of Education with this pronouncement.
“That employment exercise must be strictly on the basis of the initial approval of 869 with a percentage for the academic and non- academic staff. In the higher institutions, what is needed is academic staff and not too much of non-academic staff.
“Therefore, pro-chancellor and members of council, make sure that the exercise is strictly based on the approval, and those to be employed must be on merit basis and not man-know-man.”
In his response, the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka, expressed profound gratitude of members to the governor for finding them worthy of such noble assignment.
Adokiye assured that members will work to ensure that the name of the university that speaks volume will be steered to become a citadel of excellence.
Meanwhile, the governor has charged the newly inaugurated governing council of the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic (CEAPOLY), Rumuola, to ensure provision of proper administration to the institution.
The governor said, at this critical time, proper administration will steer the institution aright and restore it to the path of academic excellence.
Fubara who gave the charge while inaugurating the governing council of the institution, yesterday, recalled when the state was among top states in the federation with competitive academic performance, and said it was time to return the state to that path of excellence.
“We were noted for something many years ago. When you come to Rivers State, you’ll see interesting competition in education. Today, the competition is no longer in education, it is in the number of violent incidents.
“We need to change the strategy, we need to let people understand that the only way that we will develop our state is with quality education.
“In China, the secret behind their success is their brain put in their hands. When they think, they make it happen. They don’t sit in their homes to think, they go to quality schools, no matter how it is. They are built to become useful to themselves and the society.”
Fubara charged members of the new council to do something different from the normal things that they see happening in the institution.
“We have issues of employment, we have issues of staff welfare, we have issues of indiscipline by members of the staff. I know quite alright that with the calibre of the council members, you have what it takes to put that institution on the right path,” he said.
