SSANU: we’ll hold FUTO responsible for outbreak

From Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri

The national leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has said it will hold the management of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) responsible for any outbreak of Coronavirus in the university.

SSANU’s stance followed a resumption order contained in an internal memorandum, signed by the university’s registrar, J. U. Nnabuihe, on July 20, directing non-teaching staff to resume work immediately.

In response to the directive, the SSANU, in a letter to the university’s vice-chancellor, described the directive as “ill-intended and overzealous”.

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The letter, dated July 24, and signed by the national president of SSANU, Comrade Sampson C. Ugwuoke, demanded the withdrawal of that the institution’s directive.

It drew the attention of the university authorities to the most recent circular from the office of the head of service of the federation on July 2, on measures to guide against further spread of the COVID-19 virus were highlighted.”

“The said circular expressly directed only officers on GL14 and above and those on essential services to report for duty and that as much as possible all other categories of workers should be encouraged to work from home. We, therefore, wonder why the authorities at the Federal University of Technology Owerri would direct all non-teaching staff to resume for work when superior authorities have not given the all-clear sign”, the letter reads in part.