Gov. Wike inaugurates Governing Councils of tertiary institutions

Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, Wednesday, inaugurated four Governing Councils of the state-owned tertiary institutions at the Government House, Port Harcourt with a charge to them to stabilize their various institutions.

The names of the institutions whose governing councils were inaugurated include Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST, Nkpolu; Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni; Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori; and the Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Port Harcourt.

The Governor, who remarked, that the four institutions have always been enmeshed in crises, said that their respective Chairmen /Pro – Chancellors were selected on the basis of merit, experience and capabilities to stabilize the institutions.

Wike, who acknowledged the presence of the Vice-Chancellors, Provost and rector ,respectively, of the said schools, noted that they functioned in acting capacities, and charged  the newly appointed Pro-Chancellors/Chairmen to  work hard and  make them  substantive.

The Governor remarked that the Rivers State College of Arts and Science had already been upgraded to the status of a Polytechnic by the National board of Technical Education (NBTE), but was yet to become a reality and the new governing council had a duty to achieve that objective.

He noted that public secondary and post-secondary institutions always depended on government for survival, and urged them to be more self-sustaining by charging reasonable and realistic fees, because the Nigerian economy is on a decline due to dwindling revenues from crude oil.

Governor Wike warned against incessant strikes by teaching and non-teaching staffs, and wondered why a Rivers State tertiary institution should embark on sympathy strike with the institution of another state, when he has disbursed salaries and allowances.

The Governor also cautioned against conflicts between Governing council members and Vice Chancellors, Provost and the rector over the award of contracts and other perks of office such as official cars and office space for personal assistants.

“Your role as Chairmen of Governing councils is to stabilize the institutions and not to fight the VCs, Rectors and Provosts. On the other hand, the Vice-Chancellors, Rector and Provost must cooperate with Chairmen of the Governing councils, because they are the eyes of Government and we will believe what they tell us .“ Governor Wike said.

Responding on behalf of the Chairmen and members of the other Governing Councils, the newly appointed Pro-Chancellor /Chairman of RSUST Hon. Justice Iche Ndu rtd. Promised to do their best.

The inaugurated chairmen are Hon. Justice Iche Ndu (rtd) Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of RSUST, Chief Aaron Miller Ikuru, Pro-Chancellor/Chairman Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Barrister Adokiye Amiesemaka – Chairman, Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori and Senator Lee Maeba – Chairman, R/S College of Arts and Science, Port Harcourt.