Professor Okechuku OnochukuÂ
•Says, Host Got 45 Out Of 1,500 Employment Slots
By Eric Moore
ACTING Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State-owned Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Port Harcourt, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, has denied alleged neglect by host community, Rumuolumeni, of employing the natives.
He explained that out of the 1,500 employment slots, 1,100 were approved for academics and 400 for non-teaching staff.
Prof. Onuchuku said this when he was exchanging views with a section of the media following the recent protest by some youths and women of Rumuolumeni at the university entrance.
According to him, if the slots were to be distributed equally, each LGA in the state would have had 47 slots for teaching and 17 for non-teaching.
The acting vice chancellor further explained that the exercise was clearly done on merit and in compliance with employment law.
Prof. Onochuku said on that premise, particularly as it affects junior staff, Rumuolumeni alone, a ward in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, got 15 persons (slots) in academic category and 30 in non-teaching category totalling 45 employed.
He also reminded the media that IAUE is a public educational institution, owned by the Rivers State Government, and not an oil company operated by a private individual, thus, the need to follow and obey all available rules and regulations governing it.
Onochuku emphasized that recruitment of such nature in an academic institution must be competitive in nature, particularly for teaching category and other senior specialised personnel such as medical doctors, accountants, laboratory scientists, engineers and other professionals.
He, however, appreciated the efforts of stakeholders and others who are committed to supporting and promoting the image of the institution.
In meeting at the Palace of the King of Rumuolumeni, HM Eze (Engr) Chukwuemeka Victor Okocha , Olumeni XII, it was learnt that the protest was sponsored by some influential members of the community whose candidates were not selected due to their inability to score the required grades during the recruitment process.
It was gathered that at the meeting, the traditional council stated that it did not send any group to protest for the community.