The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has demanded an immediate end to the continued persecution and victimisation of its members at the Federal University of Technology FUTO, Owerri, by the Vice Chancellor, for their opposition to “the controversial promotion” of a former Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ibrahim Ali Pantami, to the rank of a Professor.
ASUU also decried similar victimisation being meted out to its members in some other universities for standing against anomalies and gross abuse of due process.
The academic body in a press release signed by Professor Michael Ugwuene, and Comrade Charles Osodeke, ASUU Chairperson, and Secretary, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU, chapter, frowned at the withholding of the salaries of some of its members in some universities.
It identified some of the institutions where members of the union are vilified to include: Lagos State University LASU; Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma, AAU; Ebonyi State University, EBSU, Abakaliki, among others.
The statement made available to Vanguard on Tuesday, read in part:”ASUU MOUAU, condemns in strong terms, the unwarranted victimization, intimidation and persecution being meted to our colleagues in some universities such as Kogi State University (KSU), Anyimgba; Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO); Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam; Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki; Lagos State University (LASU) Ojoo and Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma among others, where our members have been unjustly sacked and their salaries withheld for inexplicable reasons.
“The union is particularly worried about the undue delay of judgment by the court in the case of her members that were illegally sacked at the Kogi State University Anyimgba for seven years now, thereby subjecting them to untold hardship.
“The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), and her cohorts have continued to persecute and torment our members at the branch for their unwavering stand against the illegal promotion of Dr Isa Ibrahim Ali Pantami to the rank of Professor.
“The Vice Chancellor’s unjustifiable stoppage of Union leaders from attending statutory meetings of Senate and University committees are clear cases of victimization and intimidation which we vehemently condemn.
“Withholding of salaries of ASUU faithful members at COOU Igbariam for up to 12 months, suspension of members who opposed violations of academic standards by the university authority is regrettable and absolutely unacceptable.
“The university administration also locked up the Union’s Secretariat and prevented members from holding Congress, meetings etc at COOU.
“This is another act of impunity and hooliganism”, ASUU said.
The union said it was also disturbed at the situation in EBSU Abakaliki, where the university administration rather than implement the court judgment which was in favour of our union is now prolonging legal actions by appealing the judgment. Justice delayed is justice denied.”
The statement supported the ASUU National Executive Council, NEC, “in condemning the obnoxious and faceless actions of the university administrations where our union members are subjected to all kinds of inhumane treatment, victimization and persecution.”
While commending the steadfastness of our victimized lecturers in the affected branches and urging them to remain resolute, ASUU MOUAU calls on the Visitors and stakeholders of the affected universities, to urgently wade into the situation and resolve all the lingering issues being perpetrated by the Vice Chancellors in the interest of peace.”
ASUU also expressed solidarity with all its members being persecuted in the affected universities, saying that ” injury to one is an injury to all.”
