Ebonyi State governor, Chief David Umahi yesterday described as unfortunate the alleged involvement of university lecturers in cult related activities in the different tertiary institutions in the country.
Governor Umahi expressed the concern at the State Executive Council Chambers, New Government House Abakaliki while inaugurating the newly reconstituted Governing Council of Ebonyi State University, EBSU Abakaliki and the newly constituted Governing Board of David Umahi University Teaching Hospital, Uburu, Ebonyi State.
Umahi regretted that those who are expected to inculcate good morals in the students are now getting involved in different social vices in the tertiary institutions, thereby inculcating negative moral on the students.
The governor warned that the state would not tolerate any form of cult related activities in the two universities in the state and directed the governing council and the management of the universities to ensure that any student caught is rusticated from the institution immediately.
Umahi who announced a renowned Catholic Priest who also doubles as the Special Assistant to the Governor on Religious and Welfare Matters, Rev Fr. Abraham Nwali as the chairman of the Governing Council of the two universities urged him to take the institution to greater heights.
The chairman South East Governor’s Forum also warned against clannish sentiments in the state universities adding that the choice of Rev Fr. Nwali was borne out of his desire for excellence and commitment in achieving the set objective of the universities.
“People will be surprised that Rev Fr. Abraham Nwali has been chosen as the chairman of the board for both the Ebonyi State University EBSU and the David Nweze Umahi Teaching Hospital. This is a man we gave land as exco member and he turned it down.”
“This is a man we gave vehicles and he also turned it down. He is not going to look for money to build houses and he is not going to look for money to train his children. This is the kind of man our society needs to move our society forward,” he said.
On the continued industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, the Ebonyi State governor also opined that the university lecturers ought not to demand for salaries while on strike.
“In Nigeria, strike is no longer seen as strike because when you are on strike, you are not expected to be paid salaries for the months you didn’t work. It is unreasonable to demand for salaries while on strike. You must do something while fighting for something.
“I commend ASUU for fighting and I must also commend their doggedness for not asking for salaries for the months they didn’t work. After all it is synonymous with fasting. You must give something to get something,” he said.
Governor Umahi expressed regret that the strike action embarked by ASUU has lingered unnecessarily and urged the ASUU to reconsider their position and go back to class to enable the students go back to school.
Responding, the chairman of the governing board of the two universities, Rev Fr. Abraham Nwali commended the state governor for the confidence reposed in him and promised to work assiduously towards maintaining the standard of the universities.
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