Rivers: Drama As Gov. Fubara Nullifies Wike's Appointments Of Over 1,700 At IAUE

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Governor Siminialayi Fubara of Rivers State has caused a stir by nullifying a recent recruitment round at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Port Harcourt, which had been finalized by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

The recruitment process had resulted in the employment of over 1700 individuals who now find themselves in a state of uncertainty.

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The decision to cancel the hiring exercise was announced by Prof. Prince Chinedu Mmom, the Commissioner for Education, who cited irregularities and the university management’s failure to comply with directives as reasons for the cancellation.

The abrupt move has triggered significant reactions among stakeholders. The Rivers Civil Society Organisations (RIVSCO) Chairman, Enerfaa Georgewill, expressed vindication, stating that the irregularities highlighted by the government had been raised by civil society during the initial exercise. However, Georgewill opposed the sweeping termination of appointments and suggested that a committee of competent individuals should be empanelled to review the process, retaining those with genuine qualifications and removing those who fall short.

The Spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers, Darlington Nwauju, viewed the cancellation as evidence of deceit by the previous administration. He criticized the discontinuation of the recruitment, especially in a state with high unemployment rates, and questioned the authenticity of the claimed consolidation efforts.

The Coordinator of Niger Delta Peace Coalition, Zik Gbemre, acknowledged the bold move by Governor Fubara but questioned the punishment of innocent employees while the real offenders, the university management, seemed to be overlooked. Gbemre also called for a fair review of the process to avoid rendering individuals jobless after months of employment.

The government’s fiat comes with the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor (VC), Okechukwu Onuchukwu, who succeeded Prof Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele, the VC responsible for the previous recruitment. Some have criticized Onuchukwu for allegedly instigating the nullification of the employment, although certain irregularities were reported to have occurred under his predecessor’s administration.

The IAUE, in a statement signed by the Deputy Registrar/Public Relations, Ngozi Okiridu, refuted claims that staff hired under Prof Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele were immediately fired upon Prof Onuchuku’s arrival. The university asserted that over 85% of those employed by Ndimele were still working at the institution.