Governor Amaechi withholds salaries of striking RSUST lecturers

The prolonged disagreement between the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi and the striking lecturers of the State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), took another dimension on Monday as the Governor revealed he has instructed the Ministry of Finance to stop payment of salaries to the striking lecturers.

Amaechi disclosed this in Port Harcourt at a town hall meeting with stakeholders, emphasizing that his administration has adopted a ‘no-work, no-pay’ principle for the striking lecturers.

He said, “The university (RSUST) is not on strike. The school is open, but some teachers decided not to come. I have directed the Ministry of Finance not to pay the teachers.

“Lecturers are to teach and not to appoint a VC. I have appointed the VC whether they like it or not. The law said it is the governor that appoints VCs and not lecturers.”

Reacting to this development, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, RSUST chapter, Dr. Felix Igwe, said it was disheartening that the Governor had not called for a roundtable dialogue with the lecturers since the commencement of the strike, emphasizing that the state government was already owing the lecturers three months salaries.

It would be recalled that the lecturers have been on strike since August 13, 2012 over the reappointment of RSUST Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barineme Fakae, by the state Governor.

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