Lorine Emenike
The University of Port Harcourt branch of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has urged the Government, the general public and employees of tertiary institutions, especially academics to adopt deliberate measures towards salvaging the Nigeria higher education system from the topsy-turvydom that has rendered it comatose and dysfunctional.
The congress gave the advice on Tuesday at the international press conference organized by members of the UniPort Congress of University Academics.
The UniPort branch coordinator of the CONUA, Dr Ovunda C. Ihunwo stated that “having done a thorough and fact-based review of the comatose state of Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, particularly the public universities in the recent decade, decided to meet on this day the 26th of November.
“We observed that higher education system in Nigeria is on the verge of a dangerous precipice and there is an urgent need for all the stakeholders to adopt deliberate measures towards salvaging the system from the topsy-turvydom that has rendered it comatose and dysfunctional.
“The irritating frequency and reckless abandon with which some ASUU leaders at both the national level and some branches across the country incite their members to embark on strike actions as a means of resolving some industrial dispute between the union and government smack of ineptitude and lack of patriotism.
“Academics have a huge responsibility to contribute to the revitalization of the system through prudent management of available resources, patriotism, diligent service, commitment to ensuring a stable academic calendar and improvement in the quality and volume of service delivered.
“Also, the congress reviewed and observed much crisis that has rocked the university in the past three years have been orchestrated by the current chairman of ASUU, in the person of Dr Austen Sado whose stock in a trade since he assumed office has been to destabilize the smooth running of the institution for his own pecuniary interest.
“The following are some of his mischievous acts: he summarily and unconstitutionally suspended the immediate past chairperson (IPC) of ASUU, Professor Anthonia A. Okerengwo, as an ex-officio member of the executive committee of the University of Port Harcourt branch of ASUU on a spurious and trumped-up allegation of violation of ASUU strike.
“Also, the University of Port Harcourt ASUU branch chairman, Dr Austen Sado mishandled and exhibited a breach of due process in the matter of the suspension and subsequent termination of the appointment of Prof. Frank Ugiomoh.
“First, he interfered with the disciplinary process in the said matter by making parallel presentations of the matter in-branch congress of ASUU while the matter was still being investigated and heard by properly constituted committees of the university”
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“Based on the foregoing, we hereby resolve that we shall cooperate with the university management and other well-meaning members of the university community on all matters that are in the interest of students, staff and enlightened public in order to stabilize the academic calendar and create a congenial climate for work, learning, research and community service which constitute our core mandate”
“We totally reject the directive of the branch chairman of ASUU to members to withhold second-semester results for the 2018/2019 session, considering the grave consequences of such action for the students particularly those whose degree results are supposed to be computed and approved for them to be mobilized for the National Youth Service (NYSC).
“We call on our members to enrol for the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS)”
On his part, the National Deputy Coordinator of the South-South region of the Congress, Dr Iyawe Hanson used the medium to call on other institutions to emulate colleagues at the University of Port Harcourt to have a place on history of the restoration and development of our educational system “
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