Governor Rochas Okorocha
OWERRI—IMO State Government has warned that it would be
forced to recruit new set of academic and non-academic staff for Imo State
University, IMSU, as well as concession the institution if the workers fail to
call off their strike.
Governor Rochas Okorocha, who read the riot act in
Owerri, was also of the opinion that the emoluments of IMSU staff was higher
than what obtains in other state universities in the South-East geo-political
zone. He said: “A comparative analysis has been made with other state
universities in the South-East zone and it was discovered that Imo pays far
more than other states.
IMSU workers only argued that the institution offers
qualitative studies than the other state-owned universities in the South-East.
”
While admitting that he made an earlier promise of N800 million to the school,
the Governor, however, warned that the non-redemption of the promise is not
enough reason to shut down the university. He said: “Honestly, if the workers
fail to call off the strike, I will hire new teachers and concession the
university to any willing investor, in the interest of our children.
“I have
discovered that most IMSU lecturers are not happy with the free education
programme of my administration. They want it to fail. Perhaps, they want the
students to pay school fees and this is not what I am prepared to accommodate.”
