http://thenationonlineng.net/critical-financial-situation-rssda-sponsored-final-year-students-abroad/

On behalf of the Rivers State final year students abroad under the aegis of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), we would like to thank our amiable Governor, His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for promising and assuring us that he will continue the sponsorship of the final year students abroad and also for the continued developmental strides and ongoing projects in Rivers state, even in this harsh economic climate. We wish you all the best and our continued support as you lead us to more progressive and sustainable development.

Sir, as final year medical students graduating this year, we would like to bring to your notice our present predicament as a result of non-payment from December 2014 to date (over 1 year and 6 months). We are financially broke to the point that even food can no longer be found on our table, this is alarming but it is what we face day after day. It is embarrassing for us to inform you that, we now rely on begging from friends for even food. It is believed that, food is one of the fundamentals of existence, so how do we survive in strange, far away land without food and roof to cover our heads? Transport fare to the hospitals we do our rotations/clerkships is now very difficult to come by.

More so, we have tried arranging with the landlords to give us some time to crack a means to pay them the rents owed them but all our efforts were declined, as we owe over 1 year rent. The landlords have used legal actions against us in order to get back their money, while some students have received court summons and are expected to appear in court in the following weeks if they are unable to pay their rents, others have been given a definite deadline to pay up the rent or face jail term. As a matter of fact, some students have already been evicted from their apartments; now more than seven students are living in one room just to stay under a roof, some are squatting in church members’ and pastors’ houses while others sleep on the streets with no shelter over their heads.

The situation is unbelievable and unbearable as Rivers State-sponsored scholars and ambassadors of our great state and Nigeria at large; It is shameful and mind-boggling to inform you that most of the students have been forced to beg for donations from church members and friends just to survive as a result of Government’s inability to release funds for our upkeep. We really do not know what else to do to help our situations as every attempt to get help from the current government has been futile. Also, In addition to non-payment of students’ upkeep and accommodation allowances, tuitions have not been paid. As a reaction to that, the universities have stopped the RSSDA-sponsored scholars from attending classes and sitting for exams.
In our Institution here in the Caribbeans, the final year medical students have been stopped from attending clinical rotations/clerkships,which means that we will not be allowed to sit for the final examinations or any licensing exams and may not be able to graduate this year due to the disruption. We fear that our several years of hard work in pursuing our medical degree may be in jeopardy especially considering the fact that we have barely a few months to finish. The situation we find ourselves is very critical as our education and future is at stake.

As students, it is difficult for us to concentrate and study in harsh financial conditions, especially now that we should be preparing for our final exams and licensing exams. We do hope for a positive change as we face so many uncertainties. Our condition is now so pitiful that we are hopeless in a foreign land. Also, we would not be able to leave the country, as we are obliged to settle all debts owed and clear every financial commitment accrued (rent, utility bills and loans).

We are hereby humbly appealing to the Rivers state governor, His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the Rivers State Government, the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and her partners (SHELL, NNPC, Total, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Agip, World Bank, USAID, DFID and NDDC) to please come to ouraid, as we are totally stranded, hopeless and frustrated.

We do not know what will become of us in the coming weeks without theGovernment resolving this situation as we are facing uncertainties in a foreign land.

Long live Rivers State,
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Up till now even the staff of RSSDA have not been paid for 8 months. What's happening in Rivers State??

Reason for postponing election in Rivers abi？To use another extra one month to castigate Wike while praising Amaechi ba？ Una no sabi say elections in Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom no dey work with propaganda and Federal might except boys on ground align with Federal？una dey learn

the governor is only interested and planning how to stop magnus abe from bin a senator. I posted this stuff, expected it to hit d front page so dat people can hear d cry of this young rivers youths, but nairaland don't also care, too bad. I pray dis ur post gts d attention of nairaland.

The reason is simple

Why award scholarship to

Semenitari children

Magnus Abe children

Dakuku peterside children

There is no single poor man pikin name for that list

.

richidinho:
The reason is simple

Why award scholarship to

Semenitari children

Magnus Abe children

Dakuku peterside children

There is no single poor man pikin name for that list

The children of these people you mentioned here and their grandchildren and their unborn great grand children can never be on any state government sponsored education to the Caribbean and do you know why, they all are American citizens, even UK is too poor for them.

hydroking23:
Up till now even the staff of RSSDA have not been paid for 8 months. What's happening in Rivers State??

My neighbors are teachers, they have been doing biometric verification since Oga Wike took over - 4 months salary is what they are being owed.

id911:
Reason for postponing election in Rivers abi？To use another extra one month to castigate Wike while praising Amaechi ba？ Una no sabi say elections in Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom no dey work with propaganda and Federal might except boys on ground align with Federal？una dey learn

Many people would have died if the elections were conducted this Saturday. The security situation is still not conducive for any election yet. Nobody is castigating Oga Wike.

The Avengers have been bombing and bombing so its unfortunate that the partners cannot come to the rescue of the stranded students.

Oga Wike is capable, just route your letter thru the Commissioner of Education.

otokx:


My neighbors are teachers, they have been doing biometric verification since Oga Wike took over - 4 months salary is what they are being owed.

RSSDA staff aren't the same as civil servant teachers in Rivers State. I know a former employee of RSSDA and these circumstances caused him to resign.

hydroking23:
http://thenationonlineng.net/critical-financial-situation-rssda-sponsored-final-year-students-abroad/

On behalf of the Rivers State final year students abroad under the aegis of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), we would like to thank our amiable Governor, His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for promising and assuring us that he will continue the sponsorship of the final year students abroad and also for the continued developmental strides and ongoing projects in Rivers state, even in this harsh economic climate. We wish you all the best and our continued support as you lead us to more progressive and sustainable development.

Sir, as final year medical students graduating this year, we would like to bring to your notice our present predicament as a result of non-payment from December 2014 to date (over 1 year and 6 months). We are financially broke to the point that even food can no longer be found on our table, this is alarming but it is what we face day after day. It is embarrassing for us to inform you that, we now rely on begging from friends for even food. It is believed that, food is one of the fundamentals of existence, so how do we survive in strange, far away land without food and roof to cover our heads? Transport fare to the hospitals we do our rotations/clerkships is now very difficult to come by.

More so, we have tried arranging with the landlords to give us some time to crack a means to pay them the rents owed them but all our efforts were declined, as we owe over 1 year rent. The landlords have used legal actions against us in order to get back their money, while some students have received court summons and are expected to appear in court in the following weeks if they are unable to pay their rents, others have been given a definite deadline to pay up the rent or face jail term. As a matter of fact, some students have already been evicted from their apartments; now more than seven students are living in one room just to stay under a roof, some are squatting in church members’ and pastors’ houses while others sleep on the streets with no shelter over their heads.

The situation is unbelievable and unbearable as Rivers State-sponsored scholars and ambassadors of our great state and Nigeria at large; It is shameful and mind-boggling to inform you that most of the students have been forced to beg for donations from church members and friends just to survive as a result of Government’s inability to release funds for our upkeep. We really do not know what else to do to help our situations as every attempt to get help from the current government has been futile. Also, In addition to non-payment of students’ upkeep and accommodation allowances, tuitions have not been paid. As a reaction to that, the universities have stopped the RSSDA-sponsored scholars from attending classes and sitting for exams.
In our Institution here in the Caribbeans, the final year medical students have been stopped from attending clinical rotations/clerkships,which means that we will not be allowed to sit for the final examinations or any licensing exams and may not be able to graduate this year due to the disruption. We fear that our several years of hard work in pursuing our medical degree may be in jeopardy especially considering the fact that we have barely a few months to finish. The situation we find ourselves is very critical as our education and future is at stake.

As students, it is difficult for us to concentrate and study in harsh financial conditions, especially now that we should be preparing for our final exams and licensing exams. We do hope for a positive change as we face so many uncertainties. Our condition is now so pitiful that we are hopeless in a foreign land. Also, we would not be able to leave the country, as we are obliged to settle all debts owed and clear every financial commitment accrued (rent, utility bills and loans).

We are hereby humbly appealing to the Rivers state governor, His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the Rivers State Government, the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and her partners (SHELL, NNPC, Total, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Agip, World Bank, USAID, DFID and NDDC) to please come to ouraid, as we are totally stranded, hopeless and frustrated.

We do not know what will become of us in the coming weeks without theGovernment resolving this situation as we are facing uncertainties in a foreign land.

Long live Rivers State,
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

You guys already have a made up mind set before commenting on this issue I believe some of you did not read the post well, as long as you see Wikes name there, what came to your mind is crucify him, did you not read where the writer said since December 2014, who was the governor then, why did he not fulfill his responsibility towards the students, I believe he was more concern in sponsoring PMB election, money meant for the student was channelled to PMB election, you can now see you actually mortgage the future of Rivers State.

The previous administration had 6 months before hand over to meet up with its obligation, but failed now you want Wike with reduced income to continue with the programme, even if Dakuku had won I wonder if he would being able to cope, so if you have to blame anyone you start from the previous administration down to the present one.

gare:


You guys already have a made up mind set before commenting on this issue I believe some of you did not read the post well, as long as you see Wikes name there, what came to your mind is crucify him, did you not read where the writer said since December 2014, who was the governor then, why did he not fulfill his responsibility towards the students, I believe he was more concern in sponsoring PMB election, money meant for the student was channelled to PMB election, you can now see you actually mortgage the future of Rivers State.

The previous administration had 6 months before hand over to meet up with its obligation, but failed now you want Wike with reduced income to continue with the programme, even if Dakuku had won I wonder if he would being able to cope, so if you have to blame anyone you start from the previous administration down to the present one.

With all the money Oga WIKE has borrowed and will still borrow he can at least keep to his word to grant those in final year their scholarships so that they can complete their program and return home.