Muhammad Garba
The Academic Staffs Union of University (ASUU) Kano Zone has expressed dismay and concern over the continuous victimization, intimidation, harassment, and dehumanization of its members in several public universities across Nigeria.
The Union vows to resist all forms of harassment and coercion in its pursuance promoting due process and adherence to the rules and regulations governing the operation of the Nigerian university system.
This was contained in a press statement signed by the Zonal Coordinator Professor Abdulkadir Muhammad and made available to newsmen.
The Union lamented that the victimization of its members is perpetrated by the university administrations with tacit and, at times, open endorsement of the Chairmen of the Governing Councils and Visitors of the affected universities.
“Our members are experiencing maltreatment and dehumanization, denial of promotion, non-payment of backlogged salaries and arrears, unjustifiable dismissal/suspension, travesty of justice, denial of freedom of assembly and association, increased violation of other fundamental human rights of its members and all forms of victimization in many public universities.
According to the statement, the obnoxious, unjust, and callous victimization and degradation of their members are more pronounced in Kogi State University (KSU), Anyingba; Lagos State University (LASU), Ojoo; and Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki. Others include Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma; the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO); and Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam. Kogi State University (KSU).
“In KSU alone 120 members of ASUU have been unjustly dismissed for over seven years now, largely for demanding conducive working conditions, better welfare package, payment of backlogged salaries and allowances and adequate funding of the university.”
“The affected members sought legal redress and unfortunately the court ruled against the victims and in favour of the University, but this will not discourage us in our struggle “
However, the statement added that the ASUU-Kano Zone is particularly disturbed by the travesty of justice in this judgment delivered against its innocent members. However, the Union will continue to explore all legal avenues to ensure reinstatement of the sacked members in KSU.
“The Union is also following the injustice matted on its members at Lagos State University (LASU), Ebonyi State University (EBSU) where many of our members were dismissed unjustly and other places with a record of victimization of ASUU members and crass violation of university rules and regulations”
ASUU KANO- Zone, therefore, calls on the respective university administrations, Governing Councils, and the Visitors of the affected universities to respect the university laws, respect freedom of assembly and association, end victimization of innocent intellectuals and their families, recall all the illegally suspended members and reinstate those unjustly dismissed.
