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."
