The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nsukka Zone, over the weekend called the attention of Nigerians to what they described as the consistent degradation of standards by the Visitors to the Kogi State University (KSU) and the Lagos State University (LASU), governors Yahaya Bello and Akinwunmi Ambode, respectively.
ASUU Nsukka zone comprises; Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), Kogi State University, Anyigba (KSU), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu (ESUT) and Federal University Lokoja (FUL).
Addressing journalists in Ayingba, Kogi State, ASUU called on Nigerians to prevail on the governors and the administration of the state-owned institutions to order; reverse the ‘illegal sack’ of their colleagues and payment of their outstanding entitlements.
The zonal coordinator, Prof. Ukooh David Ikoni, who was supported by the Acting Chairman, ASUU-KSU, Dr Daniel Aina, ASUU-UNN, Dr I. M. Abada, ASUU-FUAM, Dr Veronica Jummai Ojogbane, ASUU-ESUT, Dr Chinedu Aguba, ASUU-FUL, Dr Anselm Oyem, chairperson, respectively.
“They said: “In line with the NEC’s resolution in its meeting at the University of Abuja, from Saturday 11th through Sunday 12th November, 2017 to address the press conference to draw the attention of the general public to the continuous breach and infringement of the fundamental human rights and threat to life and properties of our members in Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba and Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo by the University Administrations and Visitors to these institutions.
“The continuous sack, throw out, humiliation, termination of appointments, the use of students to threaten the life and destruction of properties of our members in KSU, persistent use of security agencies to arrest and intimidate our members in LASU, have indicated the deplorable state and total mismanagement of these State 7niversities by their university administrations and visitors namely, Messrs Yahaya Adoza Bello and Ambode Akinwumi.
“It is noteworthy that the Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors of KSU and LASU have consistently exhibited the power of a one-eyed monster, where they speak from both sides of their mouths. If at all our colleagues in KSU and LASU have committed any sin it is the sin of insisting that there must be quality education for the citizens of this country and that quality education can be achieved without increase in school fees.
“Today, the quality of education is being watered down by the government of Yahaya Bello in Kogi State University where after illegal sack of over 150 academic staff in KSU, he has resorted to engaging members of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Masters Students, laboratory attendants and even 300 and 400 levels students for teaching and examination purposes. In the same vein, the Vice-Chancellors of KSU and LASU who are supposed to be Professors in their own right have chosen to connive with their Visitors to perpetrate these illegal activities on their campuses.
“It has become necessary once again to invite you to assist the union, especially our colleagues in KSU and LASU, to educate the members of the public on how the University Administrations and Visitors to KSU and LASU are consistently eroding the legacies and tenets of the bedrock of our educational system and the citadels of learning which stands at the gate of the Nation’s hope for technological development.
“It is on record that members of our Union have been on the receiving end in these Universities of the onslaughts of various degrees of persecution solely because of insisting that the right things are done to place our Universities at par with their counterparts in other parts of the world.
“We shudder at the thought that Nigerians almost tag ASUU as synonymous with strike action because we have governments and University Administrations that are averred to timely, positive and progressive ideas or succumb to superior arguments in relation to our educational system at the tertiary level. ASUU makes bold to say that the academics are better placed to determine the speed and pace of the University education.
“ASUU wishes to state categorically and in unequivocal terms that it will continue to struggle to ensure a sound educational system for the overall development of this Nation irrespective of whatever opinion anybody holds.
“The situation in Kogi and Lagos State Universities demand further elucidation. Though from most quarters there has been wide condemnation of the proscription of ASUU in Kogi State University and the sack of over 150 academics of high repute”.