ASUU raises alarm over victimisation of members, families

Urges varsities, others to respect rule of law

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has appealed to management and councils of institutions to end victimisation of members and their families.

ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Abdulkadir Muhammad, who disclosed this to journalists, also called on councils to respect established laws, freedom of assembly and association of various workers’ union.

Muhammad expressed concern over alleged illegal dismissal, victimisation, and harassment of its over 120 executives and members in various public institutions across the country, for insisting on due process and adherence to rules and regulations governing the operation of the Nigerian university system.

He noted that the victimisation is mainly perpetrated by university managements, with tacit and, at times, open endorsement by councils and visitors of affected institutions.

He said: “The unjust and callous victimisation of our members are more pronounced in Kogi State University (KSU), Anyingba; Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo; Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki; Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma; Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO); and Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam.”

The ASUU chief disclosed that 120 of its members were sacked at KSU, five at LASU, three were suspended at EBSU, while some were denied their promotions.

Already, he stated that these institutions have banned union activities on their campuses, which is a clear violation of the fundamental right to freedom of association as enshrined in the Constitution.

Muhammad, however, noted that the victimisation of ASUU members and crass violation of university rules and regulations are not peculiar to KSU, LASU, and EBSU, but are also obtainable in many others.

He said the actions of the affected members sanctioned by these institutions were premised on their demands for conducive working conditions, better welfare packages, payment of backlogged salaries and allowances, as well as adequate funding of the institutions.

He pointed out that in 2022, under the new administration of Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello as LASU’s vice-chancellor, two committees set up to look into the activities of five ASUU leaders, absolved them of any wrongdoing and the council, subsequently, directed their reinstatement.

He lamented that two years after this directive, the affected members are yet to be reinstated.

“We are, therefore, calling on university administrators, councils and visitors of the affected institutions to respect the university laws, freedom of assembly and association, and end victimisation of innocent lecturers, recall those who were illegally suspended and reinstate those unjustly dismissed,” Muhammad stated.