By Sani Aliyu, Zaria Arising from its recent meeting, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Kano Zone has expressed deep disillusi...
By Sani Aliyu, Zaria
Arising from its recent meeting, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Kano Zone has expressed deep disillusionment and sadness over the incessant victimization, intimidation, harassment, and dehumanization of its members in several public universities.
This was contained in a press release issued to newsmen, signed by the Zonal Coordinator of the Union, Professor Abdulkadir Muhammad. He stated that these actions are ostensibly due to the Union's insistence on due process and adherence to the rules and regulations governing the operation of the Nigerian university system.
According to the Union, most of the victimization is perpetrated by university administrations, with tacit and, at times, open endorsement by the Chairmen of the Governing Councils and Visitors of the affected universities.
"The obnoxious, unjust, and callous victimization and degradation of our members are most pronounced in Kogi State University (KSU), Anyingba; Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo; and Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki."
"Others include Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma; Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO); and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam."
Kogi State University (KSU)
In KSU, 120 members of ASUU have been unjustly dismissed for over seven years, largely for demanding conducive working conditions, better welfare packages, the payment of backlogged salaries and allowances, and adequate funding of the university.
The Union stated that the affected members sought legal redress, but unfortunately, the court ruled against the victims and in favor of the university.
The ASUU-Kano Zone is particularly disturbed by what they describe as a travesty of justice in the judgment delivered against their innocent members.
However, the Union will continue to explore all legal avenues to ensure the reinstatement of the sacked members in Kogi State University.
Lagos State University (LASU)
In September 2017, the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of ASUU-LASU were illegally dismissed by the then Vice Chancellor, Professor Lanre Fagbohun, mainly because of the Union's insistence on the strict observance of due process in running university affairs.
In September 2019, the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Union were also dismissed for requesting the reversal of the wrongful promotion of Dr. Fagbohun to the rank of Professor.
The Union lamented that the Treasurer of the branch was dismissed on the same date for demanding that her well-deserved promotion be properly dated. In February 2022, under the new administration of Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, two separate committees were set up, and their final reports absolved the five ASUU leaders of any wrongdoing.
Consequently, the Governing Council directed their unconditional reinstatement with immediate effect.
Despite this, following the tyranny and arbitrariness, the Visitor of LASU, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, set up a visitation panel. All relevant stakeholders, ASUU included, submitted memoranda, but the Governor has adamantly refused to release the White Paper of the Visitation Panel. To this day, the affected members have not been reinstated.
Ebonyi State University (EBSU)
The immediate past Chairperson of the Branch, Comrade Ndubuisi E. Idenyi, was suspended by the university administration for convening a meeting of ASUU's Ethics, Grievances, Conflict, and Crisis Management Committee.
Similarly, the Branch Chairperson, Comrade Ikecheku Okorie Igwenyi, was suspended for convening an online meeting to convey NEC resolutions to members of the branch.
The Chairperson has also been denied his promotion to the professorial cadre since 2017. Worse still, the university administration has banned the Union's activities on campus, a clear violation of the fundamental right to freedom of association as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
The victimization of ASUU members and the gross violation of university rules and regulations are not limited to KSU, LASU, and EBSU but are also prevalent in many other institutions.
ASUU-Kano Zone has condemned the dehumanization, denial of promotion, non-payment of backlogged salaries and arrears, travesties of justice, denial of freedom of assembly and association, and increased violations of other fundamental human rights of its members across several public universities.
The Union, therefore, calls on the respective university administrations, Governing Councils, and Visitors of the affected universities to respect university laws, uphold the freedom of assembly and association, end the victimization of innocent intellectuals and their families, recall all the illegally suspended members, and reinstate those unjustly dismissed.
No comments