THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused various public university authorities across the country of deliberately withholding the promotions and entitlements of its members.
The zonal coordinator of ASUU in Kano, Abdulkadir Muhammad, a professor, in a statement made available to reporters on Saturday, September 14, claimed that ASUU members are being subjected to systematic denial of their rights, including promotions, benefits, and other employment privileges.
Muhammad fingered the university administrations, chairmen of the Governing Councils and the universities’ Visitors as the perpetrators of this alleged victimization.
According to him, the lecturers are being victimised under the pretence of due process and adherence to the rules and regulations governing the Nigerian university system.
He noted the ‘unjust’ victimization and ‘degradation’ of their members are notably evident at Kogi State University (KSU), Lagos State University (LASU), and Ebonyi State University (EBSU) in Abakaliki.
Muhammad stated that similar issues have been observed at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), and Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu University (COOU).
“Kogi State University (KSU) in KSU, 120 members of ASUU have been unjustly dismissed for over seven years now, largely for demanding conducive working conditions, better welfare package, payment of backlogged salaries and allowances and adequate funding of the university”, Muhammad added.
He stressed that although the affected members pursued legal action, the court ultimately ruled against them.
Providing further instances of the alleged victimisation and violation of rights, the zonal coordinator referenced an incident at Lagos State University (LASU) in 2017.
He noted that lecturers were dismissed for demanding adherence to due process in the university’s administration, adding that the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the union were also dismissed in September 2019.
“In September 2019, the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the union were also dismissed on the basis that they requested for the reversal of the wrongful promotion of Dr Fagbohun to the rank of professor. To add insult to injury, the Treasurer of the Branch was, on the same date, also dismissed 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 for their unconditional reinstatement with immediate effect,” the statement added.
He noted that after the incidents of ‘tyranny and arbitrariness,’ the Visitor of LASU, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, established a visitation panel, but the governor, he said, has refused to release the White Paper of the Visitation Panel.
This, he said, has affected the reinstatement of their members.
Muhammad also said that at Ebonyi State University (EBSU), the former branch chairperson, Ndubuisi Idenyi, was suspended for allegedly convening an ASUU’s Ethics, Grievances, Conflict and Crisis Management Committee.
“In the same vein, the Branch Chairperson, Comrade Ikecheku Okorie Igwenyi, was also 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 the campus, which is a clear violation of the fundamental right to freedom of association as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. Conclusion The victimisation of ASUU members and crass violation of university rules and regulations are not peculiar to KSU, LASU and EBSU but are also obtainable in many others.
He stressed that the ASUU-Kano Zone condemned the dehumanization, non-payment of backlogged salaries and arrears, along with other human rights violations and victimization in many public universities.
He called on university administrations, Governing Councils, and Visitors of the affected institutions to uphold university laws, respect freedom of assembly and association.
He also asked them to cease the alleged victimisation of members and their families, and reinstate all unlawfully suspended and unjustly dismissed individuals.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M