Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s decision to cancel the recruitment drive initiated by his predecessor, Chief Nyesom Wike for Rivers State’s Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Port Harcourt, has created turmoil among the 1700+ employees impacted, leading to strong responses from various stakeholders.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Prince Chinedu Mmom, conveyed in an official statement that Fubara’s administration has cancelled the recruitment. The decision came as a result of irregularities and the university management’s failure to adhere to given directives.
The statement read, ‘The Government of Rivers State has observed with dismay, the inconsistencies/irregularities and flagrant disobedience to the directives concerning just concluded recruitment exercise at the IAUE, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt.’
‘Therefore, the recent employment exercise conducted by the management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt is hereby cancelled.’
‘All appointment letters issued and received are hereby nullified and affected persons directed to return the letters to office of the Registrar of the institution, other employment related properties such as ID Cards in their possession to office of the Head of Service, Rivers State immediately.’
‘A proper and credible recruitment exercise shall be conducted in due course.’
In response to the government’s disclosure of irregularities, Enerfaa Georgewill, the Chairman of Rivers Civil Society Organisations (RIVSCO) stated, ‘For us in the civil society space, we are vindicated to the extent of the irregularities cited by the government. We agree with those who say the process should be reviewed.’
‘The incumbent governor merely echoed what we said at the time of the exercise. Rivers people cannot forget we raised the red flag promptly enough over the impunity of nepotism, favouritism and the flawed processes on the employment at the time.’
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‘It happened first at the Rivers State University (RSU) and government kept deaf ears to the alarm raised before same happened at the IAUE. Nothing to cheer about the government just waking up from her slumber now.’
‘We are however opposed to sweeping termination of appointments by fiat. We believe a committee of competent persons should be empanelled to review the process. Those with genuine qualifications should have their employment ratified and those who fall short done away with.’
Darlington Nwauju, Spokesman, All Progressives Congress in Rivers also corroborated, ‘The cancellation of the recruitment at IAUE is a confirmation of the deceit we have always warned Rivers people about.’
‘Now, in one breath, you claim to be consolidating and in another breath, you choose to discontinue and discredit, meaning consolidation was trumpeted in order to hoodwink Rivers people.
‘In a state where the unemployment rate is high up there, one can only imagine what becomes of those who got these jobs on merit outside of political or ethnic considerations.’
Zik Gbemre, Coordinator, Niger Delta Peace Coalition, added, ‘It’s a bold move. However, aside the impunity in unilaterally nullifying the entire process at the detriment of those who may have earned their employment genuinely, why punish the innocent and turn blind eye on the real offender?’
‘The school management which the state government accused of irregularities and disobedience to directives is the real offender here. They should be the first to be sanctioned and we didn’t find that in the government statement.’
‘Besides, even Wike should have questions to answer. If there were irregularities, the former governor, authorised it, because he approved the recruitment in defiance of alarm raised by stakeholders over the irregularities.’
‘We hope he (Fubara) reviews the process in fairness to those who may have merited their employment. We are talking about throwing persons already engaged for months back into joblessness.’
An important aspect to note is that the government’s directive is accompanied by the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor (VC), Okechukwu Onuchukwu, who will be taking charge of IAUE. This comes after Prof Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele, who oversaw the recruitment process during his tenure, has exited his position.
The development has led to a barrage of harsh criticisms directed at the current Vice Chancellor (VC), with many pointing fingers at him for allegedly orchestrating the annulment of the employment.
The IAUE responded to these allegation through a statement signed by the Deputy Registrar/Public Relations, Ngozi Okiridu, saying: ‘It is not true staff hired by the immediate past VC Prof Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele were fired as soon as Prof Onuchuku came on board.’
‘He had followed up the government’s directive last swiftly with sack of Deputy Registrar, Establishment of the institution, Emmanuel Kalagbor and Deputy Director, ICT, Emmanuel Aburutou.’
The situation takes on an ironic twist as the major talking point in this saga centers around the current VC, with revelations that some of the irregularities attributed to the nullification occurred during his tenure.
‘Over 85% of those employed by Prof Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele are still at the university. Universities like any other institutions, organizations, agencies are guided by laws, rules and regulations and IAUE is not an exception.’
With eight months of unpaid wages behind them, the affected staff were eagerly anticipating the settlement of their salary arrears when the government’s decision to cancel their appointments caught them off guard.