BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE
BENIN – ACADEMIC Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma chapter is to join all ASSU members nationwide to observe a one day strike in solidarity with their colleagues at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) who are pressing for a reversal of the arbitrary manner in which the institution is governed.
A statement by the Chairman of ASUU, AAU chapter, Prof. Fred Esumeh and Secretary Dr. Stanley Omoikhoje respectively, said that Nigerians should hold the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Chibuike Ameachi responsible for the disruption in academic activities in the nation's universities following the one day nationwide strike.
Vanguard learnt that at the centre of the crisis in RSUST is the Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. B .B Fakae whose appointment has been described by ASUU as undeserved and illegal and has continued to receive widespread rejection.
According to ASUU, "It beats human logic that a man who was smuggled into the system in the first place could be appointed by the Visitor to continue in office in acting capacity at the expiration of his four year tenure. His four years term came after a 2 year period on acting capacity, thus completing a circle of acting VC, and back to acting VC".
"ASUU says it views the appointment of Prof, Fakae as Acting Vice-Chancellor as unacceptable and a direct invitation to anarchy. It is morally repugnant, legally indefensible and it represents the peak of arbitrariness that should not be allowed to go unchallenged"
In the same vein, ASUU UNIBEN chapter has directed their members to observe the one day nationwide in sympathy with their colleagues in RSUST, according to statement signed by its chairman, Amadi-Emina
