Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has cleared the air on the decision of the state government to cancel the recent employment at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in the state, saying it was as a result of the glaring irregularities associated with the process.
Fubara gave the explanation and cleared the air on the issue at Government House Port Harcourt, while addressing the leadership of the state chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), who were on a courtesy visit.
The governor said the employment process contravened the earlier approval of the government which okayed the employment of 420 academic staff out of a total of 867 persons, but on the contrary, a total of 1900 persons were employed out of which only 123 were academic staff.
He said, “We are going to revisit it and that second process will be strictly on the initial approval, ensuring that the academic staff are more. We must give our people the best, that decision is in the best interest of the state, and more especially the future of our state.”
Fubara, who assured of the commitment of his administration to youth empowerment and development, cautioned the youths against operating in splinters, noting that they can only get government support when they work in unity of purpose.
The governor said, “We are working with three foreign companies that would bring in few investments. By the time they are established including agricultural projects, youth restiveness would reduce to the barest minimum.”
In his address, the chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, Chijioke Ihunwo, said the visit was to congratulate the governor on his electoral victory and the appointment of a youth activist, Chisom Gbali as commissioner of youth affairs in the state.
Ihunwo appealed for the reconsideration of the state government’s decision on the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education employment process as it affects majority of the youths of the state.
