ASUU strike paralyses academics at RSUST

Activities are at a standstill in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt.

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are on strike  over the reappointment of Prof. Barineme Fakae as Acting Vice-Chancellor.

Fakae, however, urged the striking lecturers to embrace dialogue.

The VC, who spoke through the varsity’s spokesman, Des Wosu, also pleaded with ASUU to show understanding and support his administration.

But theASUU Chairman, Felix Igwe, insisted that the university’s law on the appointment and reappointment of a VC must be adhered to.

Igwe said ASUU members would continue to boycott classes and fully withdraw their services, until Governor Rotimi Amaechi reverses Fakae’s reappointment.

Fakae was appointed acting vice-chancellor in November 2007 and confirmed on August 1, 2008 for a four-year tenure, which expired on July 31. 

He was reappointed in acting capacity the same day.

His reappointment, according to ASUU, “again” disregarded the result of a selection concluded on May 30 by the university’s Governing Council and the Senate’s selection committee.