A member of the Alumni of the Niger Delta University, Mr. Mike Olomu ON Wednesday, faulted as “wicked and inhuman” the decision of the Bayelsa state government to sack non-teaching staff of the institution.
Mr. Olomu, who made the condemnation through a press statement issued in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa state said , the sack of huge chunk of the university workforce in the name of public service reform without regard to due process and human face will have negative consequences on families and the state generally.
Mr Olomu, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, said the state government should focus on proper funding of the university to provide world class infrastructure for the accreditation of courses in the university rather than creating unnecessary tension.
According to him the attempt to sack legitimate workers of the institution amounts to running away from its responsibility as a government and called on the government to reverse its decision without any further delay.
The APC chieftain further stated that the recent protest by the non-teaching staff of the institution by going nude to register their anger is not only a sacrilege but also a clear indication that the government decision was anti people and a violation of the article of faith which he described as a vindication of his earlier alarm over attempts by Dickson administration to destroy the institution.
According to him, “the NDU is the only institution left as legacy to Bayelsa youths and Govrnor Dickson is out to destroy it. The purported reform and sack of the workers of the institution has exposed the hypocrisy of Governor Dickson’s avowed commitment to the educational uplift of the state.
“The action of Governor Dickson is also a brazen show dictatorship. Three months ago, I spoke about the matter, our lives were threatened. Lecturers were threatened. But now we are vindicated. The stakeholders in Bayelsa should not allow the university go into oblivion under this administration. ”
Olomu recalled that the Bayelsa First Lady, Dr. Racheal Dickson was once a worker of the institution, saying “this same is an institution that was sustaining the education concerns of members of the Gov’s family. He should not destroy what his family has benefited from.
Mr Olomu therefore called on critical stakeholders of the state to rise up and prevail on Governor Seriake Dickson to have a change of heart , adding that it has become worrisome where workers have resorted to coffin carrying during the protest at Amassoma,”it is a bad omen in the land for old women and young girls to display nakedness in public against an administration. The Bayelsa Elders should rise up and rescue Bayelsa. ”
It would be recalled that some angry non-academic workers of the institution on Monday took to the streets and blocked the entrance of the institution and demanding for their reinstatement by the State Government.
Reacting to the curtain during the monthly transparency of the State, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, reaffirming the administration’s determination to sanitize the system with fairness, assured that government would provide succour to those who would be affected by the exercise.
According to him, “I can’t imagine that we are still doing N4 billion in terms of monthly salaries in Bayelsa. We are even doing much more in terms of our wage bill. That is not sustainable so we need everybody’s hand to be on deck to clean up the payroll.”
“It’s better we swallow the bitter pill today so that we safeguard the future of our children and the ones yet unborn. I believe very strongly most Bayelsans who are in the public service can do better outside the service as entrepreneurs.
