ASUU condemns victimisation, illegal dismissal of members —

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has decried the victimisation, intimidation, harassment, and dehumanisation of its members in some public universities.

This is contained in a statement issued by Kano Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Abdulkadir Mohammad, in Kano on Saturday.

He Cited insistences of not following due process and adherence to regulations governing the Nigerian university system.

He expressed concern over the development, stating that university administrations, governing councils, and visitors (governors) were not acting in the best interest of public universities.

Mohammad identified Kogi State University (KSU), Lagos State University (LASU), Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU) as suspects.

Others, he said, included: Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) as institutions where ASUU members face callous victimisation.

Specifically, he mentioned 120 unjustly dismissed ASUU members in KSU since 2017, largely for demanding better working conditions and welfare packages.

There is the illegal dismissal of ASUU-LASU Chairperson and Vice Chairperson in 2017 for insisting on due process.

There is also the dismissal of ASUU-LASU Secretary and Assistant Secretary in 2019 for questioning wrongful promotions and the suspension of EBSU ASUU Chairperson and Secretary for convening meetings he said.

Mohammad vowed that ASUU would explore all legal avenues to ensure reinstatement of sacked members.

He called on university administrations, governing councils, and governors to reinstated suspended or dismissed ASUU members.

They should also address denial of promotion, non-payment of backlogged salaries and arrears and respect fundamental human rights and freedom of association

He condemned the dehumanisation and violation of members rights, urging authorities to take immediate action to address that. (NAN)