The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)

  • ASUU carpets Fayemi on earned salary of professor, governor

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed dismay over the statement credited to the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi that the salary of university professor is the same as the earned salary of a governor in the country.

    The union said governor is only been economical with the truth to say  that  “Nigerian University professors earn same salary of N500,000 as him or even more”.

    Governor Kayode Fayemi had in Paris stated that the strike embarked upon by ASUU was needless as the Muhammadu Buhari’s government has done more for education than any other government.

    But in a swift reaction, ASUU noted that Buhari education policy has brought disaster to education.

    According to the Union, Education budget before President Buhari took over in 2015 was above 10percent but Buhari has worsened this by retrogressive allocation that took 2018 education budget to six percent.

    ASUU in a release signed by the Chairman, ASUU University of Ibadan, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan , Dr Deji Omole stated that while the union will not like to be distracted in her struggle for the revitalization of Public education by political opportunists like Governor Fayemi.

    While challenging Fayemi to publish salary and allowances that he collects monthly to back up transparency and accountability claims of the ruling party, Dr Omole noted that no newly promoted professor earns N500, 000 a month.

    Omole noted that a newly promoted professor in slave enclave called Nigerian Universities earns below N400, 000 and will only be able to receive N500, 000 monthly after ten years of becoming a professor and this includes all allowances.

    Read Also: ASUU has fared better under Buhari, says Fayemi

    ASUU said it will be proud if President Buhari during the many presidential diaspora trips will be able to attract any foreign scholar with the poverty wages he pays Nigerian lecturers.

    “It is sad that someone is living on the state resources with his families and countless aides with juicy salaries will not be circumspect in thought. Fake news and propaganda have been the trade mark of the ruling APC. Fayemi’s utterances revealed the mental state of those ruling us. We challenge him to publish what a university professor earns as salaries and allowances and what governors earn and allowances.

    ” If lecturers earn more than governors why did Fayemi run away? Fayemi should tell the world how much he spent on capital grants to EKSU during his first sojourn in office.  EKSU as it is now is more of tetfund university which was a product of ASUU struggle.  He should rather be grateful to ASUU for the regular bailout from tetfund. Fayemi is one of the brain drain the struggle is trying to address because if the university learning environment are conducive enough, Fayemi would have stayed in the academia rather than playing politics of destruction. Nigerians should asked him why he failed to pick up the appointment offered him by as an associate lecturer by university of Ibadan Senate.

    “ASUU has not made monetary issue the main , but her members are entitled to allowances owed them since 2010. We are more concerned with a revitalised university that is adequately funded to attract foreign scholars. Fayemi should attract an international professor and offer to pay him $1500 per month and let us see how many of them he can bring to Nigeria. A person who bought nomination form for N22.5million to become governor and spend billions to campaign with his party listed among those who bought votes, Fayemi should tell lies to his partymen who are not discerning”, the union said.

  • ASUU wants FG to negotiate with union to end strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), says it is ready to negotiate with government toward ending its one-week old industrial action.

    Its President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, who was guest on TVC News Breakfast show on Tuesday, also advised government to establish an education bank for proper funding of universities.

    He regretted the attitude of government to the university lecturers’ demands, saying that letters notifying government of the strike, which were submitted to the education and labour ministries on Nov. 5, had not been replied.

    “We wrote to inform the ministries that we had resumed our strike. We told them that we had resumed the strike we suspended in Sept. 2017 because government failed to implement agreements we signed.

    “The ministries signed to acknowledge receipt of the copies we gave them, but none has written a reply to us,” he said.

    He accused the political class of strangling primary and secondary education in Nigeria, saying that 24 states had failed to access the Universal Basic Education Commission funds for 2018.

    According to him, that has left UBEC with more than N60 billion that states have yet to access.

    Ogunyemi observed that the federal government, which had consistently allocated seven per cent to education in the last two years, was not sincere in the claim that it was declaring a state of emergency in the education sector.

    “The Federal Government suddenly woke up from slumber and announced a state of emergency in the education sector. It also promised to allocate 15 per cent of its budget to the sector. We find this unbelievable and deceitful.

    Read Also: As ASUU begins indefinite strike

    “We feel that the `sudden’ promise has more to do with the fact that we are in an election year,” he declared.

    He alleged that the ruling class in Nigeria had no concern for the education of the poor.

    NAN reports that the lecturers had resolved to remain at home until their demands, which include proper funding of the universities, are met.

    Other demands included the payment of full salaries by state-owned universities, payment of earned academic allowances, among others.

    NAN

  • ASUU has fared better under Buhari, says Fayemi  

    …Says ASUU needs not go on strike

     

     

    Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi on Monday declared that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) needed not to have embarked on strike action.

    According to him, the union and tertiary institutions in the country have fared better under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Fayemi, spoke with journalists in Paris at the end of the President’s interactive session with Nigerians living in France.

    Read Also:Parents, students appeal to ASUU to end strike 

    With competing demands for the national resources by the various sectors, he said that ASUU cannot have everything it wants.

    He said; “If you talk about tertiary education, ASUU is on strike, but you ask yourself, why is ASUU on strike. ASUU claimed that it is on strike because it wants improvement in the fortunes of education in Nigeria and that government has not lived up to expectations.

    “I made bold to say that no government has done as much as this government has done. Not just for ASUU, but for tertiary education in our country.

    “Is it enough? Absolutely, it’s not going to be enough. We have to keep doing more.

    “But ask yourself what was the average wage in the University system before. A university professor earn more than me as a governor. My salary as a governor is N500,000. Most university professors earn about the same amount if not more.

    “Yes, you may argue that there are other opportunities available, there are also other opportunities that are available that are not being taken advantage of by our academics. I can say a little bit about this because this is my terrain.

    “I do not think that ASUU on its own strength can argue that government has not done well. There is hardly any institution in Nigeria today, including states universities, that have not had the benefit of intervention.

    “It is either the government is building an auditorium or rehabilitating a laboratory, or improving on students hostels in virtually all the universities as I speak to you. That’s what TETFUND does via their intervention funds. That again is not the complete solution.” he said

    The governor said that there is need to revisit a whole lot of things about education policy in the country.

    He added “Can we continue to maintain a tuition-free education in Nigeria, in even Federal universities. What UNESCO pushes for, what most universal human rights positions argue for, is that basic education should be free. Basic education is free in Nigeria right up to secondary schools.

    “As for free university education, I’m not so sure that is what we really need right now. But in order to address that, we also must elevate the place of technical and vocational education in our country so that we don’t see those that go for technical education as inferior to those who go to universities.

    “Our educational system should focus on functionality rather than just certificates. I think this is what ASUU and other drivers of change in our economy should be arguing for.

    “Can we add more resources to education budget?  Absolutely we can. But when you have competing needs, you cannot have everything that you want. And this is something ASUU needs to know,” he said

    He also pointed out that education is the responsibility of the three tiers of government and not just that of the Federal Government.

    “When we talk about 5% of the budget going into education, we often do not take into account recurrent expenditure, we focus on capital expenditure.

    “Secondly, we exclusively think that the Federal Government alone is responsible for education. Education is a responsible across the board and there are states budgets that must be factored into that total picture.

    “Also there is local governments budget that must be factored into that picture because basic education is the responsibility at the lower level of government.” he said

    Speaking on President Muhammadu Buhari’s participation at the Peace Forum in Paris, he noted that peace is very important to development.

    “I feel it’s appropriate for President Macron to invite our President for the forum,” he said

  • Parents, students appeal to ASUU to end strike

    As the indefinite strike embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) entered its second week on Monday, parents and students have appealed to the union to call it off.

    Some of the parents and students who spoke in separate interviews wit our reporter in Abuja called on the striking lecturers to embrace dialogue in the interest of the nation.

    Mrs Josephine Taiwo, a business woman and mother of three undergraduates urged ASUU to suspend the strike considering its possible negative effects on both students and parents.

    She noted that if the strike was allowed to continue it would alter many universities’ academic calendars and make it difficult for students to graduate at the right time.

    Mrs Okiki Samson, a teacher in one of the government secondary schools in the FCT also decried incessant industrial actions in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

    As a parent, she described the current development as unhealthy for the future of the students.

    “It is unfortunate that some students have spent over five years for a course that is supposed to last four years as a result of frequent strikes.

    “Whenever ASUU goes on strike, it is the children of the poor that suffer it. Most children of the rich do not school in our universities.

    She urged the union to explore other avenues of ventilating its grievances, maintaining that strikes adversely affect the academic programmes.

    Also, Mr Solomon Adams, a resident appealed to the lecturers to suspend the strike, calling on government to pay attention to education and treat issues relating to it as a priority.

    He condemned the fact that government till date still allows issue of strike to continue in education sector.

    “I appeal to ASUU to consider interests of students who are at the receiving end, so that those in final year could finish up with their examinations.

    “Meanwhile, it is not good that government still allows strikes in our universities till date,’’ he said.

    A parent, Mrs Victoria Babatunde, also urged the ASUU leadership to give Federal Government more time to meet its demands, in view of the present situation in the country.

    “It is unfortunate that government has been unable to fulfil its own part of the agreement reached with ASUU.

    “But ASUU should not be too rigid. The union should consider the prevailing situation in the country,’’ she said.

    Miss Hannah Ayanwale, a law student at the University of Abuja said Education was the engine room that drives economic and technological development of any nation and should not be allowed to suffer.

    “Our leaders should give education its pride of place in order to move this country to forward,” she said.

    Mr Ola Alonge, a student of computer at the Nassarawa State University keffi equally appealed to the government and ASUU to resolve the lingering industrial dispute.

    NAN reports that the National President of ASUU, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi on November 5 called for an indefinite strike involving both the federal and state-owned universities.

    NAN further reports that the strike follows allegation of failure of the Federal Government to implement Memorandum of Action (MOA) 2017 signed with it.

    While declaring the strike in Akure, Ogunyemi said “Having waited patiently for action and meaningful negotiation with reasonable men using the principle of collective bargaining.

    “ASUU at its NEC meeting of 3rd and 4th November 2018 at the FUTA,  resolved to resume the nationwide strike action it suspended in September 2017 with immediate effect.’’

    NAN

  • AAU-ASUU threatens strike action 

    The Ambrose Alli University chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike action over non-appointment of a Governing Council and under-funding of the institution.

    It said the absence of a Governing Council made the university to be run on an abnormal basis.

    Read Also:LAUTECH crisis: ASUU resists ‘commercialization’ of education

    Chairman of AAU-ASUU, Prof. Monday Igbafen, who spoke while addressing journalists on the union’s resolve to ground academic activities said manifestations of underdevelopment of the university, would not be allowed to continue.

    Prof. Igbafen said the union has written several letters to Governor Godwin Obaseki on the need to constitute a Governing Council.

    Igbafen noted that issues of policy direction, sensitive financial and administrative approvals that required the final attention of the Governing Council are kept on hold or circumvented since August 2017.

    He said the development has led to absence of oversight functions on the university administration on possible arbitrariness and infraction on due process.

    Prof. Igbafen stated that the university workers have not earned full salaries for four months running due to inadequate funding.

    The AAU-ASUU chairman accused the university management of using deductions of staff welfare associations to augment payment of salaries.

    He said there was total absence of state’s fund for capital projects.

    According to him, “Our union has made strenuous efforts through reports and letters to draw the attention of the Visitor to the University to the sorry state of the university against the backdrop of a debilitating crisis of funding.

    “All the efforts amounted to naught and no modicum of concrete mitigation of the problem of funding is in sight.

    “We know the problems here are far too antithetical to the smooth functioning of an ideal university.”

    Spokesman for the university, Mr.  Edward Aihevba, said talks were on with ASUU leaders to make sure they do not embark on the strike action.

    Aihevba said the state government has promised to inaugurate a Governing Council.

    He said the state government has been consistent in paying its counterpart funding of N250, 000 but that there was still a wide margin for the university to meet its salaries obligations.

     

  • Why we use academics as collation officers – INEC  Chairman

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has disclosed that the determination to make outcomes of elections credible informed the engagement of tested and trusted members of the academic community as collation officers by the electoral body.

    Yakubu, while disclosing that an additional seven million Nigerians have registered through the window provided by the Continuous Voters Registration Programme, reiterated the electoral body’s stand that there was no legal encumbrance stopping the commission from proceeding with the sequence of election as entrenched in the existing electoral law.

    He spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the colloquium for the unveiling of a book titled “INEC Beyond 2015: Overview, challenges and Prospects”, written by the Executive Director of the Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group ( ISDMG ), Dr. Chima Amadi.   

    Reacting to allegations made by some members of the civil society group that some of the collation officers have been found to have either connived with certain political interests or abdicate their responsibilities in some cases, Yakubu noted that the selection process of the university don has always been thorough with the full participation of the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ).

    “On how what we are doing to prevent the connivance of collation officers in rigging of results, we still believe that the university community is still apolitical and we can rely on them largely for the job at hand. It is for that reason that the commission has always worker with ASUU to recruit credible persons for us.

    We have now changed the strategy of recruitment as we now move outside the immediate environment where an election is taking place to recruit collation officers. And to endure minimal contact with them, you will see that we no longer publish names of the collation officers as we used to do in the past”, he said.

    On the seven million additional voters, the INEC chairman noted that Rivers State tops the list of states with the highest registered voters followed by Anambra, Borno and Delta. Others include Lagos, Cross River, Osun, Enugu, Kano and Plateau.

    ‘”We have started displaying the register and it would be on till the 30th of April to enable us attend to issues of cleaning the register. We hope more citizens would scrutinize the register so that we can clean it up especially when they alert us with the names of dead citizens.

    I can assure you that we are fully prepared for the 2019 elections and it is going to be better than the 2015 elections. I have been involved in the best profession—teaching. INEC job is a calling. It is not a job. Some of us have integrity and I will make myself available to answer questions to the best of my knowledge”, he stated.

    He said the Commission is in talks with the Nigerian Communications Commission to help in liaising with telecoms service providers to assist in sending bulk messages to millions of voters who are yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards which are still in the offices of the electoral body.

    Speaking on the controversial change in the sequence of the 2019 elections by the National Assembly and the ongoing case at the court, Yakubu noted that: “There is no legal encumbrance on the sequence of election as far as INEC is concerned. There is an existing law and whatever is happening is inchoate. There are no legal lacunae and we have been working based on the existing law. If the proposed amendment is passed, we would look at it. If not, we go ahead with the existing law.”

    The book reviewer and popular human rights activist, Mr. Ledum Mitee, said the 69-page report aptly captures the drama surrounding all the 167 elections conducted by INEC after the 2015 elections, noting that particular attention was paid to the activities of some collation officers who allegedly “colluded with one party or the other or absconded from their duty post and also some security officers who gave security cover to political thugs and colluded with one party or the other.”

  • UniJos ASUU seeks solution to herdsmen/farmers clashes

    Worried by the persistent clashes between farmers and herdsmen, the University of Jos ( UniJos ) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ), on Monday held a symposium where stakeholders proffered possible solutions to the menace.

    In his speech at the occasion, Dr. Chris Piwuna, the chairman of the association, challenged Nigerians to put heads together toward tackling the scourge.

    He said that a state of anarchy was gradually setting in, and warned that Nigeria’s nationhood was under threat.

    Piwuna urged stakeholders, especially farmers, herdsmen, security agencies and the government to be sincere in their approach to the issue, saying that the incessant violence could snowball into unmanageable dimensions if not tackled.

    He regretted the massive human and material losses over time, and called for sacrifices from all sides toward lasting peace.

    The ASUU chairman attributed the violence to a struggle for Nigeria’s limited arable land, and advised government to seek out ways to settle cattle breeders so as to minimise open grazing that had often led to clashes over destruction of crops.

    In his paper, Prof. Omotoye Onorode of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, said that modern cattle rearing system had become “increasingly inevitable” to avert constant clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria’s rural communities.

    Onorode, in his paper titled: “Herdsmen/Farmers Clashes Today: Ecology, Class and Categorical Politics in Contemporary Nigeria”, said that modern cattle breeding system would take cognizance of equity in land allocation for the two groups.

    “The society is in deep crisis; the old system of symbiotic living is dead and the new system cannot be formed because of the social and political interest not giving room to new ideas.

    “There is inequality in securing land which is the main requirement for these groups. The quest for wealth has subdued the need to chart ways for a peace charter between the herdsmen and farmers,” he said.

    The university don alleged that monies proposed for grazing reserves and ecological funds had been misused by successive governments, while the 1978 land law meant to facilitate easy access to land had only benefited capitalist land owners.

    Noting that prejudices of fear and ignorance had bred distrust among the groups, he said that the problems could be reconciled through more interventions toward ensuring a better life for the rural population.

    In his remarks, Mr Ephraim Sheyin, Zonal Manager, Jos zone of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that suggestions toward ending the violence had often failed because those concerned were not involved in their planning and execution.

    “Government has made many suggestions. Some have suggested ranching, grazing reserves and cattle colonies.

    “These suggestions have often hit the wall because of mutual fear and suspicion caused by lack of, or poor consultation. All stakeholders must be involved in the search for peace so as to reach agreements accepted by all parties,” he said.

    He regretted that most policies were always formulated by elites who had no farm or cattle, and urged government to relate closely with rural farmers and herders since they were the ultimate determinants of the success or failure of such policies.

    Sheyin said that the clashes were purely a direct economic struggle over a limited resource – land.

    “Our land resources are shrinking while human and cattle population is increasing. In 1950, our population was 33 million, but we are currently close to 200 million.

    “The fight is about who should get the limited arable land. Any other thing is secondary,” he said.

    In his remarks, Mr Abdullahi Ardo, Secretary of Miyetti Allah cattle Breeders Associati, Plateau State Chapter, decried the absence of infrastructure in their communities, saying that the situation was breeding frustration among the rural areas.

    He also alleged that the clashes were being fueled by the media who usually draw conclusions about attacks without proper investigation.

    Mr Aboi Madaki, President, Plateau Initiative for the Development and Advancement of the Natives ( PIDAN ), blamed the clashes on land confiscation.

    Madaki cautioned herdsmen against accommodating in their midst, foreign militias usually accused of carrying out the attacks.

    The symposium, which was chaired by Prof. Lami Lombin, former Director General, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, was attended by four former Vice Chancellors of the university.

    NAN

  • Strike: UniAbuja chapter of SSANU seeks NASS intervention

    Strike: UniAbuja chapter of SSANU seeks NASS intervention

    The University of Abuja ( UniAbuja ), chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU ), has called on the National Assembly ( NASS ) to intervene in the ongoing industrial dispute between it and the Federal Government.

    Members of Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising Non-academic Staff Union of Universities ( NASU ), SSANU and National Association of Academic Technologists ( NAAT ) have been on strike over Federal Government’s failure to pay their earned allowances.

    The strike commenced on Dec. 4, 2017.

    A statement by SSANU’s National President and Chairman JAC, Mr Samson Ugwoke, on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the leader of UniAbuja chapter of SSANU, Malam Hassan Shallangwa, had presented a letter requesting the intervention of lawmakers.

    He said that the letter was presented to Mr Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of House of Representatives, through his Special Assistant Media and Publicity, Mr Turaki Hassan.

    “The Federal Government, through its relevant Ministers, have refused to dialogue with the unions and are pretending that all is well in our campuses, but we believe that it is only the National Assembly that can call them to order in the interest of Nigerian Education

    ‘’The strike we embarked upon since Dec. 4, 2017 has been crippling almost all activities on our campuses, yet the government remained passive about it, ’’the statement quoted Shallangwa as saying.

    Ugwoke expressed JAC’s dismay that the N23 billion paid by the Federal Government was cornered to pay the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ) “for their Earned Academic Allowances.”

    He said that the three non-teaching staff unions were left with N4.6 billion (11 per cent), as earned allowances.

    NAN

  • Herdsmen set 150 acres palm plantation ablaze in Ibadan

    Herdsmen set 150 acres palm plantation ablaze in Ibadan

    Two years after Fulani herdsmen invaded a multi-million Naira farmland in Lagun village destroying poultry valued at N100million, and maimed six attendants, the herdsmen again on Sunday invaded the palm trees farm of the settlement and set 150 acres ablaze in a night raid operation which left workers on the farm scampering for safety.

    In an emotion-laden voice, the farm owner who doubles as a former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Mr. Dele Adigun told journalists Tuesday evening after inspection of the gross damage inflicted on the farm that “farmers may be forced to begin to take laws into their hands if this stupidity and unguarded arson continue unabated”.

    He noted that about 1,500 palm trees were destroyed with value yet to be ascertained as at yesterday morning when he visited the place with a team of security agents.

    Said Adigun: “they set my farm ablaze and destroyed about 1,500 palm trees. You recall that six of my attendants were maimed and property destroyed two years ago, precisely March, 2016. We reported to the police and nothing has been done till date. In the 2016 attack, we lost about N100million. And we are yet to quantify this latest attack and that’s what we are contending with now. We have reported to the police and till now they are yet to make any arrest. I am disturbed; I am concerned because we are talking about diversification of economy but with these hoodlums now, there is a problem as many people would not like to go and farm again.

    “It is as if the law enforcement agencies are helpless to tackle this menace. What is DSS, police and other security agencies doing that they cannot make arrest? They go to farm at night and set it ablaze so that when it rains, their cattle can be fed with the new grass. How can you destroy someone’s property to feed your animals for your business to thrive? If care is not taken, farmers may be forced to take law into their hands. I hope we won’t get to such a situation. I am seriously disturbed,” a retired Permanent Secretary piqued.

    Meanwhile, Oyo state Police Command yesterday called for peaceful coexistence between the Fulani herdsmen and the farmers , stressing that there is no vacancy for bloodshed in the state.

    The Police Command who read riot act to all who are planning to cause disharmony in the state, appealed to such trouble maker to either leave the state or be prepared to face unpleasant consequences .

    Addressing a security interactive forum  organised by the state Police Command, the state Commissioner of police , Mr. Abiodun Odude said ” we have to organise this meeting so that we can address some issues that are affecting our farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria and we have to take this proactive step in this state so that the existing peaceful atmosphere will not be hindered .”

    Odude said “Oyo state is a very peaceful state and we must make sure we do a lot of things in making sure we are having a peaceful society and that is the reason why we are here today.

    “We must make sure that we are doing  series of meetings with both the farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in the state so that we can address a lot of things that could have cause  serious crisis within them, once we are meeting with them some serious issues that can affect both parties will be discussed and settled amicably and in a peaceful manner without shedding blood.”

    In the same vein, the University of Ibadan Branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ) has called on Nigerians to stand up for their rights and hold the present government accountable for promises not kept.

    He noted that ASUU, unlike Nigerian politician who will say one thing and do another, ASUU as union of intellectual would always fight for the right of the downtrodden.

    Omole noted that current administration seems to be taking Nigerians for a ride and prioritizing the lives of cows more than the enshrined right to live of Nigerians in the constitution saying that Nigerians must be ready to hold government accountable for their lapses.

  • ASUU demands Panel of Inquiry into LASU crisis

    ASUU demands Panel of Inquiry into LASU crisis

    The Lagos Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Wednesday demanded the setting up of an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the crisis at the Lagos State University, Ojo and the attendant sacking of seven lecturers among others.

    The Lagos Zone of ASUU comprising of Federal and State universities in Lagos and Ogun, also called on the Kogi State Government to reverse its decision regarding the sacking of over 150 academic staff of the Kogi State University, Ayungba and re – instate the affected lecturers.

    Addressing journalists at the ASUU office in Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB) Abeokuta, the Lagos Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Olusiji Sowande, described the treatment mete out to their colleagues in Lagos and Kogi State Universities as acts of “impunity and crude political onslaught” on the union.

    Olusiji added that they were calculated to “intimidate, harass and decimate” lecturers in both institutions.

    According to him, the zone was mandated by the national body of the union to look into the crises at LASU and KSU and give recommendations.

    The Zonal Coordinator briefed journalists in company of other ASUU executives –  Deji Agboola of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Dr John Fayemi of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, and Dr. Dele Ashiru of University of Lagos.

    Others are; Dr Akinloye Oyewumi of Lagos State University and Dr Adebayo Oni of FUNAAB.

    He alleged that members of the union in LASU were being hounded by the Vice-chancellor, Prof. Lanre Fagbohun, for demanding constitution of a functional budget monitoring committee.

    He also said members had asked for evidence of proper utilisation of the N1.3bn NEEDs Assessment Revitalisation fund released to the institution in 2013.

    Sowande explained that their colleagues incurred the wrath of the management of LASU for demanding the implementation of Earned Academic Allowances components of the ASUU-FGN 2009 Agreement.

    He said the union had written a letter to the visitor to the institution, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, over the issue.

    The Union also expressed its displeasure over the recent increment of acceptance fee from N10,000 to N20,000 by the Institution .

    He said:  “ASUU, Lagos zone joins the Education Right Campaign in calling for an independent panel of inquiry on the unfolding crisis in LASU with a view to resolving it before the crisis becomes a monster that will be difficult to curtail.

    “We call on governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to call some of his functionaries to order as there are evidences that they are working  in tandem with Vice  Chancellor of LASU  and some members of the governing council to fuel the crisis in LASU

    “Our union should not be held responsible for any eventual crisis in LASU.

    “The real motive of the LASU’s management for hounding our members is to silence them and we are going to resist it.

    “We want an independent panel of inquiry to be set up by the visitor, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. If this is not done, the problem will keep reoccurring.

    “A case in point is that of the treasurer of LASU branch, Dr. Oluwakemi Aboderin-Sonibare was queried for demanding that her promotion should be correctly dated”.

    On Kogi Varsity crisis, Sowande condemned the sacking of 150 members of academic staff of the University, describing it as impunity and high-handedness by the state governor, Yahaya Bello.

    He urged the state government to reverse the decision on the sacking of the 150 academic staff of the Kogi State University.