Reports going round this morning, has it that the Rivers State commissioner for education is conniving with the National Union of Rivers State students (NURSS) leadership to exclude private University students from the proposed bursary payment exercise. Speaking during a press brief by the Igbinedion University chapter president he said the following.


"ALLEGED PLAN TO EXCLUDE RIVERS STATE STUDENTS IN PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES FROM THE PROPOSED BURSARY PAYMENT EXERCISE BY THE RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT"

It has come to our notice that the Commissioner of Education, Hon. Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, the National Student Union Executive and the Senate Arm of the NATIONAL UNION OF RIVERS STATE STUDENTS have concluded plans to sideline Rivers indegenes in private universities from the proposed bursary payment exercise. We are by this expressing our displeasure as well as calling the attention of the Governor to wade into this issue with a view to call to order  the aforementioned authorities to refrain from this barbaric intention to eclipse some students in private universities from this laudable exercise. We know the Governor's intent is to carry along every Rivers State student irrespective of their religion, status, political affiliation and ethnicity. Just some months ago, the Delta State Governor paid all Delta State students and no one was excluded. Most recently, the Governor paid the tuition fees of some Rivers State students in diaspora amounting to Billions of Naira or so. We are Rivers indegenes and as such kick against this discrimination. We are not looking at the amount paid but the inalienable RIGHT that has been denied us by excluding us. Section 42(2) of the 1999 Constitution clearly states that "no citizen shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth." It is not our fault that we are in private universities. We have duly registered with the National Executive, we were part of the planned protest, we even mobilized our students to Port Harcourt before the protest was called off. I am very optimistic that the Governor will give keen attention to this allegation and trash it as usual.

I am Opuende Lolo Isaiah.
President, National Union of Rivers State students, Igbinedion University Chapter.