Why I cancelled employment at Rivers varsity — Fubara
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has said the state government cancelled the recent employments at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt due to ‘glaring irregularities’ associated with the process.
Fubara gave the explanation while addressing the Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, who paid him a courtesy visit in the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.
This was contained in a statement signed by Boniface Onyedi, media aide to the governor, and sent to newsmen.
Fubara stated that the employment process contravened the earlier approval of the government, which okayed the employment of 420 academic staff out of a total of 867 persons, but on the contrary, a total of 1,900 persons were employed, out of which only 123 were academic staff.
He stated that the employment process would be revisited strictly in tandem with the initial approval.
The governor stated, “In the higher institution, who are the major people you need?
“It is the academic staff. In that kind of situation, what do you expect us to do? Because we want to please our people, we swallow it? No, we can’t do that.
“That is the major reason for that cancellation. We are going to revisit it, and that second process will be strictly on the initial approval, ensuring that the academic staff are more.
“We must give our people the best, that decision is in the best interest of the state, and, more especially, the future of our state.”
Fubara, who assured the youths of the commitment of his administration towards youth empowerment and development in the state, cautioned them against operating in splinters, saying they could only get government support when they work in unity of purpose.
He added, “We are working with three foreign companies that would bring in a few investments. By the time they are established, including agricultural projects, youth restiveness would reduce to the barest minimum.”
Earlier in his address, the Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, Ambassador Chijioke Ihunwo, said the visit was to congratulate the governor on his electoral victory and the appointment of a youth activist, Chisom Gbali, as Commissioner of Youth Affairs in the state.
Ihunwo also appealed for the reconsideration of the state government’s decision on the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education employment process as it affects the majority of the youths of the state.
