The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Professor Kaniye Ebeku, has charged members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology Chapter, to engage government constructively whilst making demands.
Professor Ebeku gave the charge in his office in Port Harcourt when the Union paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Friday.
He urged the Union to exhaust all channels of dialogue before taking any other steps, if need be.
The Education commissioner encouraged the new Exco members of the Union to work for the benefit of the Chapter and the College, building bridges and mending fences.
Professor Ebeku also congratulated the new Exco on their election, and assured the Union of the State Government’s commitment in strengthening the education sector. He further said that the challenges articulated during the visit will be addressed.
Earlier, Leader of the delegation and Chairman of the Chapter, Dr Iloma Richard, said the reason for the visit is to formally present the members of Exco to the Honourable Commissioner.
Dr Iloma expressed willingness of the Union to “strengthen existing partnership ties with the Ministry in order to provide the needed enabling environment conducive for learning”.
He said: “we considered it appropriate to introduce to you the newly inaugurated chapter executive committee of ASUP in Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology Chapter and also explore ways to partner with you and collaborate with your Ministry in ensuring that we provide the needed environment conducive to learning and retraining of essential health care manpower in the college”.
He assured the Commissioner of the Union’s readiness to constructively engage the government, noting that “under our reign we will engage meaningfully; where there is a need we will run to you to let you know our challenges”.
Dr Iloma further commended the efforts of the Rivers State Government in upgrading the College to a polytechnic status in 2019 ”with all consequential benefits”, and enumerated some challenges the College is facing.
FAUSTINA EUGENE-NWANEKWU
S.A Media to the Commissioner
27/03/2021
