The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ASUU

  • Vote out parasites from government – ASUU

    The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr. Nasir Fagge, has asked Nigerians to use their votes to unseat all “parasites in government.”

    The union also condemned hate campaigns, which it said could plunge the country into violence if not stopped.

    The ASUU president spoke at a symposium organised by the union on the 2015 general elections and titled: “Towards Issue-based and Violence Free 2015 Polls.”

    He charged them to ensure that the elections usher in new crop of leaders that are interested in development of the country.

    Through the ‘callousness of the parasites, Nigerians, he said, are being looked down on not only by the developed countries but also African countries that has same history with the country.”

    He therefore asked the electorates to ensure that corrupt and anti-people leaders are legally removed through the ballot.

    Fagge noted problems such as unemployment, insecurity and infrastructure decay were results of failed leadership, urging Nigeria to unseat parasites in government.

     

  • ASUU workshop tackles ethical questions

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has urged lecturers to be mindful of their behaviour while discharging their duties.

    The union organised a workshop titled: “Academic ethics and principles of ASUU”, to address issues of ethical behaviour of lecturers on the campus.

    Its national president, Dr. Nasir Fagge, in his address,  said the union faces a moral challenge regarding the conduct of its members, which may not tally with the ideals of the group.

    Fagge, who was represented by the Vice-President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, said: “You people are always asking government to put more money into the universities. You don’t monitor how the money is spent. Despite the review of your salaries, you still go ahead to exploit your students and some of you still sell scores for favours.”

    He underscored the need for members of the union to maintain their integrity.

    “We, as a Union, our greatest asset is our integrity. The moment we compromise our integrity, the respect for the Union would diminish,” he warned.

    At the event, FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Olusola Oyewole said issues raised at the workshop went beyond the requirements of ASUU to extend to the expectations of the university concerning lecturers’ conduct.

    He said lecturers should seek answers to the following questions: “What are the dos and don’ts of this community and this profession? What are my rights and privileges? What are the things I need to avoid as a lecturer? How can I operate with integrity as an academic staff? How can I meet with the demand of this profession of research and teaching?”

    He also appreciated the ASUU FUNAAB Branch for organising the workshop and engaging renown academics such as Prof Omotoye Olorode and Prof Ololade Enikuomehin.

    Oyewole said Olorode was already an established academic when he (Oyewole) was an undergraduate student at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.  He also said Enikuomehin was forthright.

    “I have been in this University for so many years and I have had great interactions with many people and one of the people that I know stand for that which is right or good is Prof Ololade Enikuomehin,” he said.

    On his part, the ASUU-FUNAAB Chairman, Dr Festus Adeosun, said the workshop was organised to enlighten members on their roles as lecturers so they could align with the union’s desire for members to live above board, and the university’s vision as it expands.

    “As a fall-out from this workshop, we expect that we would individually and jointly adopt the outcomes of this deliberation with the seriousness and the gravity they deserve and come out with concrete means and suggestions to implement and evaluate the outcomes,” he said.

    He said after the training the union expected that “breaches hitherto observed, will be a thing of the past”.

    Meanwhile, Fagge said the last national strike of 2013 achieved its objectives.  As a result of the federal government’s agreement with the union, he said, no Nigerian university would have less than N3 billion in its coffers in the next three years.

     

  • ASUU chiefs in road crash

    The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Nasiru Isa Fage and a member of the union’s board of trustees, Dr. Dipo Fashina, have survived an accident on the Anyigba – Enugu road in Kogi State.

    The duo, who along with other leaders of the union, including Prof Suleiman Abdul of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, were on their way to Abia State University, Uturu, for the union’s National Executive Council meeting in Fage’s bus when a commercial vehicle ran into them.

    Though Fage and Fashina escaped unhurt, Prof Suleiman Abdul sustained a dislocation on his shoulder and was rushed to an orthopaedic specialist hospital in Abuja.

  • LASU-ASUU factions disagree on protest

    LASU-ASUU factions disagree on protest

    •Lagos zone insists protest must hold

    Two factions of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University Chapter, are bickering, following a planned protest today.

    A faction, led by Interim Chairman Asokere Idris, yesterday held a briefing at LASU, Ojo Campus, urging the university community not to support the planned rally by the Lagos Zone (encompassing University of Lagos (UNILAG), LASU, and Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU).

    The Lagos zone at a briefing at the UNILAG-ASUU secretariat said the rally would hold to pressure Governor Babatunde Fashola to intervene in the problems in LASU, particularly the alleged witch-hunting of ASUU members by the Vice Chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa.

    Zonal Coordinator, ASUU Lagos Zone, Dr Adesola Nassir, said the union do not recognise the Asokere-led faction, stating that Dr Adekunle Idris, whose PhD was withdrawn by the university in a controversial manner, remain the true ASUU-LASU executive.

    He said: “We will be staging a rally with other civil society groups to further call the attention of the people in Lagos State and Governor Babatunde Fashola government to the brewing crisis at LASU.

    “If the crisis is not arrested we are certain the consequence will not be in the interest of the Lagos State government. For the umpteenth time therefore, we are asking the governor and Visitor to call the VC to order. The alternative is to watch the school snowball into more crisis with the attendant implications.”

    Asokere, at the LASU briefing, said there was total accord in the university, except for the external elements trying to instigate some aggrieved members of the union to foment trouble and destabilise its system.

    He said: “I want to quickly address the call to a protest march slated for today by Comrade Aremu of JAF.

    “Many text messages have been circulated in the last few days by an unknown Dr. Idris, giving reasons for the protest.

    “Some of the reasons given were victimisation of students and lecturers.

    “Secondly, they cited an intention to increase LASU school fees and thirdly they mentioned disruption of academic freedom. We are constrained to state that such a rally is not justified.”

    He explained that there was no plan to increase the university tuition fees, or records of any member being victimised.

    “Students need to be informed that political thuggery may come in different guises, including this one that wears the cloak of a peaceful rally. Parents are  advised not to allow their children and wards to be used by agents of political parties, who are disguising to be unionists.”

  • ASUU seeks visitation panel for LASU

    ASUU seeks visitation panel for LASU

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Calabar Zone has urged the Lagos State government to constitute a visitation panel for the Lagos State University to investigate the alleged ‘gromy impunity and recklessness of its management.

    In a statement signed by the zonal co-coordinator of the union, Dr Nsing Ogar; the secretary, Dr Charles Obot and branch chairmen, the union claimed that if the state fails to intervene, the crisis in the university may degenerate further.

    “We believe that without this being done, the situation in LASU will deteriorate to the level that meaningful academic work would no longer be guaranted,” the statement reads.

    The union’s claim is in light of the withdrawal of PhDs of 17 academics by the Senate of the university last month, including that of the ASUU-LASU Chairman, Dr Adekunle Idris.

    The union accused LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa, of adopting ‘repressive tactics’ to silence his perceived enemies and claimed he was persecuting ASUU members because they fought on the side of students for tuition fees reduction.

    “The zone condemns the highhandedness of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Oladapo and the LASU administration, which if not checked, has the tendency of being replicated in public universities in the country with its attendant terrible consequences,” it said.

     

  • ASUU seeks protection for UniBen lecturers

    ASUU seeks protection for UniBen lecturers

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has asked Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole to respect the rule of law over the demolition of houses of lecturers.

    ASUU condemned the alleged violence on its members by agents of the state government,

    Its president, Nasir Fagge, in a statement in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, alleged that unidentified agents of the government, accompanied by some thugs, brutalised its members occupying university buildings, on which litigation was pending.

    He said it was unbelievable that the governor could preside over a state where rather than providing homes for the people, legitimate owners were rendered homeless.

    Appealing for police protection for its members, the ASUU president also urged Oshiomhole to respect the rule of law.

  • ASUU urges Fashola to rescue LASU from ‘tyranny’

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abuja Zone, has faulted the leadership style of the Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. John Obafunwa.

    The union also called on the visitor to the university and Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to rescue the situation.

    Coordinator of ASUU, Abuja Zone, Dr. Suleimen Mohammed, told journalists in Abuja that the VC should be called to order for victimizing ASUU members and reducing promotion criteria to mere reward system.

    He said: “As we know, evil is contagious and like an epidemic, would soon spread across the universities in Nigeria. ASUU-ABUJA Zone hereby calls on well-meaning Nigerians to join forces with ASUU to crush this evil that has crept into LASU before it destroys the university. In the same vein, the Union calls on the Visitor to the University and the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fasola (SAN), to urgently come to the aid of the university and rescue it from tyranny, misrule and mediocrity, so as to restore the eroded past glory of the University.

    “Promotion amongst academics in any normal University is based on scholarly productivity and time-in rank provisions as specified in the Appointments and Promotions guidelines of a University. However, Obafunwa has eroded this culture in the Lagos State University. He has reduced promotions criteria to mere reward system, to reward those who assist him in his maladministration and misrule; yea, those who help him to destroy LASU. While J. O. Obafunwa is yet to circulate the Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) Forms for the 2013 promotion exercise as stipulated in the promotions guideline of LASU, Obafunwa has selectively promoted his cronies and partners in crime!

    “Apart from this selective promotion programme for cronies, Obafunwa introduced an alien concept into the promotion exercise of the academics at LASU. He devised a new term promotion, ‘promotion to vacancy’ in LASU. Under this scheme, academics are supposed to be promoted if and only if there is vacancy for such promotion. This is worrisome and betrays the inexperience of the Vice Chancellor in the proper running of a University system. The truth is that professors in a particular department have their areas of expertise and one cannot block the promotion of another.

    “Only recently, Obafunwa and his stooges/cronies turned their destructive machinery against the incumbent Chairperson of ASUU-LASU, Dr Adekunle A. Idris, stripping him of the PhD he earned several years ago, all in the name of the Senate of the Lagos State University not properly wording the degree.

    “The sin of these men for which they and many others in the Lagos State University are being persecuted is simply their insistence on observance of due process and strict adherence to best academic practices. We believe these men are men of courage who dare to fight for justice for all and specifically for the system in which they work- LASU.”

    Present at the briefing was the former ASUU President and trustee member, Dr. Dipo Fashina who also said strike may not be ruled out of this situation if nothing is done adding that justice and equality must prevail. He said ASUU has held series of strike for the same cause in the past and that the voice of the union is very strong on issues like this.

  • ASUU protests assault on members in Benin

    ASUU protests assault on members in Benin

    Members of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) protested yesterday the alleged manhandling of its members by suspected hoodlums.

    The protesters were angry that the hoodlums unleashed mayhem on the members over disputed land allegedly belonging to the university.

    The union, in a statement yesterday in Benin, the Edo State capital, by its state Chairman Anthony Monye-Emina and Secretary Okeri Henry, urged law enforcement agencies to intervene in the matter to save the lives of its members.

    The statement reads: “We write to the attention of the public to the resort to lawlessness and gangsterism against some of our members on Friday, 19, December.

    “For the information of the public, the University of Benin was in court over landed property in the GRA, Benin City, and judgment was delivered on Tuesday, December 16, 2014. During the pendency of the matter, the res was tempered with and we strongly believe that this is against the rule of law.

  • Edo: ASUU Protest Assault on Members

    Edo: ASUU Protest Assault on Members

    Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), University of Benin chapter yesterday raised concern over the alleged manhandling of its members by suspected hoodlums who unleashed terror on them over disputed parcels of land allegedly belonging to the Ivory tower.

    In a statement signed by Dr. Anthony Monye-Emina, union state Chairman and Okeri Henry, union Secretary and made available to newsmen in Benin, Edo state capital, the union called on the law enforcement agencies to intervene in the matter to save the lives of its members.

    It reads in part: “We write to the attention of the general public to the resort to lawlessness and gangsterism against some of our members on Friday, 19, December, 2014.

    “For the information of the Public, the University of Benin was in court over landed properties in the GRA, Benin City and judgment was delivered on Tuesday 16th December, 2014. During the pendency of the matter, the res was tempered with and we strongly believe that this is against the rule of law”

    Emina further added: “The University of Benin promptly filed an appeal against the judgment of the High Court and appealed for a stay of execution on Wednesday, 17th December, 2014 which has been scheduled for determination sometime in January 2015.

    “Our major concern is the inhuman and barbaric manner in which some academic staff were mercilessly beaten to stupor by hoodlums and their properties forcefully thrown out of their apartment even when the University of Benin is yet to be officially served the ruling of their High Court. This is summarily self-help without due recourse to the laws of the land.”

  • ASUU demands release of don’s wife

    ASUU demands release of don’s wife

    THE AcademicStaff Union of Universities (ASUU) has demanded the unconditional release of the abducted wife of the union’s Chairman in Osun State University, Dr. Seye Abiola.

    Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Olusegun Ajiboye, stated the union’s position while addressing reporters in Ibadan after a special congress.

    It was gathered that Mrs. Abiona was kidnapped last Friday night and taken to an undisclosed location. Her captors are demanding N50 million for her release.

    But Prof. Ajiboye has asked the Federal Government and Governor Rauf Aregbesola to justify their positions by securing the release of Mrs. Abiona.

    The ASUU chief, who said kidnapping was a major challenge to the union, urged the kidnappers “to release our wife, our daughter and our mother unconditionally and unharmed.”

    Prof. Ajiboye, who was supported by the union’s National Treasurer, Dr. Ademola Aremu, said the union had been in the forefront of fighting against injustice and therefore, should not be victim of kidnapping.