Lecturer In A Viral Video Doing Bus Conductor Identified As Zoe Tamunotonye, Explains Why He Resorted To Doing The Work
You will recall we reported that a lecturer was spotted doing bus conductor due to the ongoing ASUU strike. However, the identity and the school of the said lecturer had been revealed.
He is a lecturer at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola in Port Harcourt, and his name his Zoe Tamunotonye.
Zoe opened on why he has turned into a bus conductor. In a telephone interview, he explained that he is doing the bus conductor work for survival over the alleged refusal of the school management to pay him his six months salaries.
According to the PUNCH, the university distant itself from an episode of suspected s#xual misconduct against Tamunotonye involving a 200-level female student in a statement signed by its Registrar, Chris Woke, and slapped him with a three-month ban pending the outcome of an investigation.
Tamunotonye, on the other hand, was shown in a viral video loading passengers and calling out routes and destinations.
The lecturer, dressed in black slacks and a white T-shirt with sandal shoes, was spotted announcing the bus' destinations.
Tamunotonye, on the other hand, was shown in a viral video loading passengers and pointing out destination regions.
The instructor, dressed in black slacks and a white T-shirt with sandal shoes, was spotted announcing the bus' destinations.
“Mile one, Mile three, Ikoko. Please hold your change, loading bus,” the lecturer was heard saying while also assisting passengers with their luggage.
When reached by phone on Monday, the distraught lecturer said that he had turned to the conductor business after many attempts to find another job had failed.
Tamunotonye said, “I had an issue with my school and they suspended me for three months without salary. Eventually, they set up a committee, did their findings and after the end of the committee’s work, since March, the committee’s report has not been released.
“Rather, management wrote me a letter to resume work, that they have lifted my suspension. But that I should write an apology letter to management.
“So I responded by asking for clarification on the need for the apology and asked what the result of the committee was. They refuse to avail me of the outcome of the committee’s report.
“However, I resumed work and started teaching; but they refused to pay my salaries since January. This is six months I have not been paid.
“So, you know the situation of the country. I have been the one assisting my family. All my siblings are not working, but now I have to depend on them. And I saw that the burden was becoming too much on them.
“It has been six months now I have not given my mother anything for feeding. There are six young widows I take care of, some of them in my committee and also some aged people that I support with my little pay.
“One of the widows called me last Friday that the children need to pay the examination fee of N3000. I couldn’t raise it.
“I can’t even raise money to take care of myself on a daily basis, and I can no longer depend on my family. So I looked around, but there were no alternative jobs.
“Even in this bus conductor business, I had met about six drivers who turned me down because of my status. I beg for transport to go out. It is my neighbour, an Igbo woman that has been feeding me since January. This is worse than staying in the prison
“Until I met this man and explained to him that I am dying in silence before he availed me the opportunity to serve him as conductor.”
When asked about the actual issue with the school, he stated that it was about a young lady in the polytechnic with whom he had a transaction outside the institution, and that he was afterwards accused of s#xual harassment.
I even reported the matter to the school. The security said it had nothing to do with the school, we should go and resolve our problems. The matter got to the commissioner of Police and he resolved the matter amicably. All parties went home.
“It was one week after when I wanted to launch my book in honour of the governor. That was when my school went to the media with this claim.
“So, I am asking my school to release the report of the committee. If I am indicted, there is punishment according to my school laws for such an offense, which is not to write a letter of apology. It is dismissal.
“They should dismiss me if I am guilty of the harassment they accused me of. But if I am not, they should go and clear my name in the media and pay me my salary. I have nobody to defend me. My mother is a trader,” he stated while fighting back tears.
Continuing, the lecturer said, “If I had any bad name he (Rector) would not have engaged me. He has been giving me confidential jobs to do. I was his research assistant until he got his Doctorate Degree.
“Society should help me. If I am indicted they should send me to prison. If I am not, they should not make me feel guilty. Six months without pay is worse than prison,” he lamented.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Polytechnic, Benson Wekere, confirmed that he saw Tamunotonye’s video circulating online working as a bus conductor.
Wekere, however, said he had informed the school management of the development, saying he awaits authorization before he could speak on the issues raised by the lecturer.
“I can only speak for the polytechnic when I am authorized to do so. What I am asked to say is what I will say.
“So, I have passed the information to my boss. As soon as I get a response in that regard, I will let you know. I am always available to speak with the media because they are my colleagues,” Wekere said.
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