by Stanley Azuakola

If there’s anything to note about Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, it is that the man hardly ever backs down, once his heart is set on a course. Ever since he appointed Professor Barineme Fakae as the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), it has been a battle of wits between him and the university chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

On Wednesday, the governor directed the Ministry of Finance to stop further payment of the salaries of lecturers who had embarked on an indefinite strike to protest the appointment of Fakae.

His directive came after his meeting with the Governing Council of the university, which briefed him on the strike action by ASUU.

The governor used the occasion to emphasise that there was no going back on Fakae’s appointment because as visitor he passed through the due process required by law in the appointment of the vice chancellor.

A PM News report said that the governor “lashed at the University lecturers for abandoning their primary responsibilities of teaching and conducting research for politics about who becomes the Vice-Chancellor”.

However, despite the strike action by ASUU in the university, the management of RSUST are currently conducting the second semester examination for student.