The VC has killed dialogue in UB

Dr Fontem Neba

- Dr Fontem Neba, SYNES UB scribe

I saw you a while ago in a heated discussion with the Minister of Higher Education. What were you talking about?

We wanted the minister to have a true picture of the atmosphere that prevails in UB; we wanted him to know that the administration of the University of Buea has distorted the facts against two of our colleagues with the aim of punishing them unjustly. So, we presented the correct facts to the minister. Happily he has promised us that he will look into the matter. So we are waiting for that moment.

Over the past several years there have been recurrent strikes at the University of Buea. What is the fundamental problem in that university?

The fundamental problem is the absence of dialogue. The vice chancellor of the university has eschewed dialogue, she avoids dialogue by every means and we think that she is making a sad mistake. The avoidance of dialogue has landed us in needless quarrels and strikes, and we have wasted valuable time that we could have used to do many great things. I  seize this opportunity to come back to the case of our two colleagues because it is a potential source of trouble at the University. Lecturers are grossly displeased with the manner in which the VC is running the university. We think that the VC is too authoritarian. We accepted her as a mother on the very first day she was appointed. But over time our disappointment was total and complete when we realized that she was all out to dispense with the teachers’ union. She went out on a punitive expedition to persecute our members especially members of the executive for yet unjustified reasons. These two colleagues are actually the 1st vice president and the welfare secretary of SYNES UB chapter. The lies that have been fabricated with the intention of destroying the careers of these two colleagues are just what we cannot condone. That is why we are doing everything to make sure that it doesn’t land us into yet another crisis.

You give the impression the VC is not serving the interest of the students and lecturers but only that of the gov’t?

I don’t think she is even serving the interest of the government because the government asks its agents to use dialogue as an instrument of administration. And this is what the VC has refused to do, unfortunately.

It is believed in some quarters that there is a tribal undertone to the problems at UB. Do you share this opinion?

One of the reasons why these two colleagues are suffering today is because they have abundantly raised the issue of the tribalization of the University of Buea. But we thought that as intellectuals we should think and act in ways that do not portray us as unworthy of our training. Our training does not permit us to think and act in tribal lines.

Some observers say that UB lecturers are more interested in their trade union activities and are not doing the job that they were employed to do, that is teaching and research!

Well, those who say so have a right to their opinion. But I must say here that we do a lot of teaching and research. Proof of this is that when you come to the University of Buea today you will realize that more lecturers have made progress in their careers in the last four years than they did in the last ten years. So, I think that particular allegation is unfounded.

The minister has assured lecturers that the special research grants would be paid and in good time. Will that help to bring an end to strikes at UB?

It is a good thing that the research and modernization allowance is going to be paid. We need the money because we have a whole load of work to do using the grants.

Any last message for the VC of UB?

She should open up for dialogue. President Biya tells us that we should always use dialogue as an instrument of our mutual co-existence. Dialogue will go a long way to ensure peace at UB.