Dr Dakuku Peterside has urged Governor Nyesom Wike to save Rivers students from missing 2021/2022 admission into higher institutions in Nigeria.
Peterside accused the governor of caring less about the future of Rivers youths, hence his adamant attitude not to employ teachers more than eight years after the last set was employed.
The former NIMASA D-G, who weighed in on the inability of students to access their National Examination Council (NECO) results due to the fees the state government owed to the exam body, said Wike is always quick to use state funds to feather his interests but would not release money owed to NECO.
He explained that the laxity of the governor towards education would likely jeopardize the future of children in the state if not addressed.
“Why would the governor want to jeopardize the future of our children? Their mates in other states are busy gaining admission into tertiary institutions, but ours cannot do so because of an incompetent governor.
“Rivers people should call the governor to order and make him realise that he holds the position on behalf of all of us and not an extension of his father’s estate,” he stated.
Peterside decried the state’s falling standards of education due to the lack of teachers and classrooms noting the closure of many schools across the state.
“As of today, Rivers State is lacking teachers in practically all primary and secondary schools. In some cases, many primary schools have been shut down owing to a lack of teachers and even classrooms.
“For example, in Etche local government area, more than 30 primary schools do not have teachers, while some have just one or two teachers.
“In Obio/Akpor, where the governor comes from, several secondary schools are lacking teachers in core subjects like English, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, among others.
“Even more shocking is the fact that while teachers are available in some cases, there are no classroom blocks and teaching aids to help impact knowledge.
“He cares less about education, and it is therefore not his priority sector; meanwhile, education is the way to secure the future. The issue of imprest to primary and secondary schools is a dead matter despite making so much noise about it.
“And here is a governor that has recklessly spent money acquiring personal properties all over Port Harcourt and beyond. He has been busy violating all known due process laws by awarding contracts from his pocket.
“At the appropriate time, we shall call him to account for his mismanagement of state funds. He should not think that Rivers people are suffering from collective amnesia, that time is coming soon,” he stressed.
