25/06/2016
AN OPEN LETTER TO NIGERIAβS MINISTER OF EDUCATION
RE: WHY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA STUDENTS, ZONE B, THINKS THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT, PROF. NDOWA LALE, SHOULD BE DEPOSED
Sir, we, as a body, reached the decision to write to you through this means because we want our position to be seen and read by all and sundry. The administration of an institution like University of Port Harcourt is not a clandestine thing, and the fact that the institution in question is a federal one makes this method of reaching you germane. Sir, like every concerned citizen of Nigeria, we, NANS, Zone B, are worried that the real cause of the mayhem that led to the untimely demise of Com. Peter Ofurum, a final year student of Accounting, University of Port Harcourt, has not received the requisite attention deserving of your Ministry, the plethora of letters to that effect notwithstanding. As a body, we believe that this government that hinges its policies on change will not administer to the Ministry of Education the same way governments before it did. It is based on the confidence that we have on your able leadership that we have decided to channel our complaint to your exalted office, hoping it will be given the needed attention in the interest of the staff and students of University of Port Harcourt. Thus, our beloved Minister, we shall take ample time to review the ugly incident of April 11, 2016 in University of Port Harcourt and the nefarious activities of Prof. Ndowa Lale, the embattled Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt.
As a prelude to the crux of this letter, Sir, we wish to state here and now that it is as a matter of reference that the embattled VC is called βVice Chancellorβ, for the Governing Council has reached a resolution that he be suspended. We implore you, Sir, to prevail on Prof. Ndowa Lale, who illegitimately continues to carry himself as the Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, to heed the resolution of the Governing Council and step down for the reasons below.
First, Honorable Minister, it is wrong for any administrator of any institution of higher learning to be responsible for the loss of a student under his/her watch. Yes, the unnecessary loss of life on April 11, 2016, that led to the closure of University of Port Harcourt is most avoidable because the work of any well bred administrator is to see to it that issues that can bring about chaos in a university or any other school are carefully administered to.
The embattled Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Ndowa Lale, erred administratively because students have unassailable and inalienable rights to protest where and when the fees they pay are inexplicable; where their welfare is not given the needed attention; and where there is lucid disconnect between management and students. In this case, students of University of Port Harcourt were not happy with Management because of the kind of frivolous charges they are forced to pay.
The charges are as follows:
N45,000.00 School Charges (Fees)
N10,000.00 External Examiner/Project Defence
N23,000.00 Certificate Charge
N 5,000.00 Peculiar Charge (Average)
N12,000.00 Convocation Package
95,000.00 Total
You will agree with us, sir, that the total sum of N95,000.00 is clearly a violation of the N45,000.00 benchmark of the Federal Government stipulated for all Federal Government institutions in Nigeria. I am sanguine that since this figure contravenes your directive, you would see why students resorted to self-help, since it was clear that Management under the headship of the embattled VC, Prof. Ndowa Lale, did not want to give them audience. Some of the charges above are difficult to understand.
For instance, what is the meaning of βpeculiar chargeβ? Why would a student of university pay any sum of money for certificate? Why should it cost up to N23,000.00 to obtain certificate from the same university someone attended and graduated from, bearing in mind that scholarship is not free? Furthermore, Sir, why would Management raise the basic school fees to the benchmark, when the directive of the Federal Government says that should be the sum? Sir, you will agree with us that the VC, as the administrator of the school, failed to act within the ambits of the law guiding fees in federal universities.
Second, the VC, Prof. Ndowa Lale, failed to play the fatherly role his office demands from him. Yes, as VC of the university, he ought to have provided the platform for amicable resolution of crisis in the school. Sir, when it became clear to students that Management did not want students that had not paid their fees to take the first semester examination, students became livid and sought the attention of the Management of University of Port Harcourt. Sir, all efforts by students to get Management to the dialogue table proved abortive, as the VC armed himself with security personnel thereby making it difficult for students to reach him. Students, having tried all they could to get the attention of Prof. Ndowa Lale to no avail, decided to stage a protest, and in a swift response, the VC of University of Port Harcourt invited armed policemen and ordered them to shoot at armless students. Com. Peter Ofurum, a final year student of Accounting, became the casualty of a trigger-happy policeman, as the deceased was shot several times. Sir, recall that the crisis had not got to a situation beyond the control of the VC. Yes, even while the students had gone on rampage, a good administrator would have fashioned out ways to salvage the situation, and not to exacerbate it. Sir, it is our humble submission, and we urge you to acquiesce, that Prof. Ndowa Laleβs failure to give listening ear to students under his administrative watch is the remote cause of the brutal death of Com. Peter Ofurum.
Third, Sir, Management of University had said that students that had not paid their fees would not take the first semester examination, and when students sought the attention of Management to discuss the embargo, the VC, Prof. Ndowa Lale, as Head of Administration, became evasive. However, Sir, after Com. Peter Ofurum had been gunned down, the same Management allowed students to take the examination. It is very clear that the VC, Prof. Ndowa Lale, does not have regard for the casualty of his maladministration. We wonder how many more casualties will be needed for anti-student policies of University of Port Harcourt, or any other citadel of learning manned by someone of Prof. Laleβs ilk, to be dropped. Furthermore, Sir, if the VC had nothing to hide, would he not have heeded studentsβ appeal for meeting with Management? Students wanted Management to explain the βNo fees, no examinationβ rule. Why would a university student be compelled to pay his fees before taking his first semester examination? Policies are made in institutions with some consideration given to the welfare of students. For instance, how come the Studentsβ Government Union had no idea the new rule would be implemented swiftly? It is my appeal to you, Sir, that you use your good offices as Minister of Education to prevail on this VC to step down so that normal academic activities can resume without rancour. We have observed that students are taking their examination now, even though they have not paid their fees. Does it mean that someone had to die to get the VC, Prof. Ndowa Lale, to the dialogue table?
Fourth, Sir, we beseech you to prevail on the Governing Council of University of Port Harcourt to make their findings public, since University of Port Harcourt is a federal institution. We are aware that the Council have deliberated and found the VC, Prof. Lale, unfit to continue as Vice-Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt. All we want from the Council is a publication of their findings so that the whole can see that students are not the cause of the mayhem that gulped the life of Com. Peter Ofurum. Furthermore, we want the findings of Council to be made public so that all those responsible for the loss of life can be tried, for this will put to rest the traumatic experience that the family of the deceased is going through. Our beloved Honorable Minister, we know what we call university is an interrelation between teachers/lecturers and students. A situation where, due to inaction of an administrator, the life of a student is cut short, the best thing to do is to serve justice so that the confidence of students can be boosted anew. Sir, this is what we are asking for, and we are hopeful of your positive and swift response.
Fifth, Sir, we have noticed with dismay publications and jingles by ASUU concerning this matter. We have heard that the association of lecturers is giving the Governing Council of University of Port Harcourt a one-week ultimatum to recall the suspended VC, Prof. Ndowa Lale. We must say we are taken aback by this threat of strike action by ASUU, because it does appear that, like Prof. Ndowa Lale, the death of Com. Peter Ofurum means nothing to some persons. ASUU should take note that the deceased is someoneβs son. As a body representing students in the South-South, we condemn in very strong terms such call by ASUU, because it is inhuman and misrepresentative of what a body of lecturers should do in the circumstances. ASUU seems to be spoiling for war with students, and every sane person knows this call has the proclivity to aggravate the already bad situation. One thing we know is that this godless call will not stand. It is our humble appeal to you, Sir, that you wade into this looming clash between ASUU and studentsβ union. All we want is justice, and there cannot be justice as long as the embattled VC remains in office.
Lastly, Sir, as Honorable Minister of Education saddled with the goal of revamping the ailing education in Nigeria, we are optimistic that you know that the continuous stay of Prof. Ndowa Lale in office, against the wishes of students, Governing Council, and concerned Nigerians, will not augur well for the progress of University of Port Harcourt and education in Nigeria. Sir, any administrator that does not respect the law guiding administration is a square peg in a round hole. Prof. Ndowa Lale has shown, by his actions and inactions, that he is not fit to manage a university; and it is only right and proper that he be suspended. As Minister of Education, it is your bounden duty to, by your action, purvey the needed balance in situations like this.
We wish to round off by saying that where the collectivity of students and Governing Council in any citadel of learning find an administrator guilty of any charge and unfit to continue in office, it is only proper that the apropos ministry uphold same. An administrator that denies the administered hearing; that is the real cause of the death of a student under his watch; and that undermines and utterly disrespects the decision of students and Council, and even threatens to deal with students, is indeed not worthy of any serious administrative job.
We move you, Sir, to see it this way so that the needed justice can be served. We also pray you prevail on Management to carry out autopsy on the deceased, Com. Peter Ofurum and make their findings public.
Thanks and God bless.
Russell Idatoru Bluejack
For: National Association of Nigerian Students, Zone B.
