Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Ibadan zone yesterday raised the alarm over the Victimisation of its members, saying more than 200 of its members are being victimised through unjust termination of appointments and the deliberate refusal to pay them their salaries.
ASUU’s zonal coordinator, Professor Oyebamiji Oyegoke, at a press conference in Ibadan, yesterday, specifically accused the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, of victimising members of the union for opposing the award of professorship on former minister of communication and digital economy, Dr Isa Pantami
The University Don, who raised the alarm, added that the “Onslaught by some elements of the Nigerian state in its quest at destroying what is left of Nigerian public universities has not abated”, adding that the latest onslaught was now from visitors and university administrators.
The Ibadan zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (comprising the University of Ibadan, Ibadan; University of Ilorin, Ilorin; Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso; Osun State University, Osogbo; Kwara State University, Malete; and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo).
According to Oyegoke, over 120 union members were unjustly sacked at Kogi State University, Anyigba, for participating in the strike. At Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, ASUU members were demanding justice for 28 months of unpaid salaries, opposing undue amendment of conditions of service by the Special Intervention Team and rejection of notional promotions of members.
“More specifically, we frowned at the interminable calamities being meted against our members at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojoo, Kogi State University (KSU), Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma (AAUE), Edo State, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Anambra State, and the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Imo State and others campuses where our members are being unlawfully suspended, unjustly diminished, denied promotion, and salaries withheld for insisting on the rule of law and insistence on defending the autonomy status of universities.
“Unfortunately, the situation has not changed; hence, we must reinstate our patriotic opposition to the odious state of things in the universities above.
As the saying goes, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.
At Lagos State University (LASU), Ojoo, Adegoke disclosed that “Five of our members, the union’s branch chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, assistant secretary and treasurer were dismissed on trumped up charges like insistence on adherence to the rule of law and asking for well-deserved promotion.
“It’s been seven years since the travails commenced and have not abated even though the Visitation Panel set up by the Visitor to LASU, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, absolved our members and called for their unconditional reinstatement.”
He added that in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, the branch secretariat was locked and “Our members are not allowed to hold regular congress meetings on the campus as if the right to freedom of assembly and association is not sine qua non under the Nigerian constitution.
“To worsen the situation, salaries of our members, up to 12 months, are withheld to keep faith with ASUU’s adherence to due process and academic freedom. In Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki.