By Praise Chinecherem
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has flayed Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State, Prof. Nnenna Oti and her collaborators over their continued unwarranted attacks on its members.
The body called on Minister of Education and other well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the VC to respect the laws of FUTO and stop persecuting its members for insisting that the right thing should be done in the university.
Addressing newsmen shortly after its meeting at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, ASUU Owerri Zone Coordinator, Prof Dennis Aribodor also
urged Oti to take the path of honour and reverse illegal appointment of Dr. Isa Ibrahim Ali Pantami.
He said, “The attacks on committed ASUU members at FUTO came on the heels of the Union’s principled stance against the illegal appointment of Dr Isa Ibrahim Ali Pantami as a Professor in that University while not qualified for the position and while serving as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Union has received reports of attempts by the Vice Chancellor, Prof.(Ms.) Nnenna N. Oti, to deny our members the right to unionize on campus. The Vice Chancellor whimsically stopped union leaders from attending statutory meetings of Senate and university committees.
“We note that statutory senate meetings and other University committee meetings are outside the union roles of our union leaders. This clearly is an act of victimization.
“We reaffirm our support of NEC condemnation of the action of the FUTO administration and urge the Vice Chancellor of FUTO to take the path of honour and reverse the illegal appointment of Dr. Isa Ibrahim Ali Pantami.
“We call on the Minister of Education and other well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on Prof. Nnenna Oti, the Vice Chancellor of FUTO, to respect the Laws of FUTO and stop persecuting our members for insisting that the right thing should be done in that university.”
Expressing disappointment over illegal dissolution of Governing Councils of Federal Universities and some State Universities, the body described the act as unbridled attack on and erosion of autonomy of the universities in violation of the extant laws of the universities.
It called on Federal and State Governments to immediately reverse the decision and to reconstitute the Governing Councils whose tenures have expired without further delay.
“The Governing Council is the highest decision making body of the University charged with the general control of the institution, its affairs and functions, including finances and property.
“The illegal dissolution of the Governing Councils of Federal Universities and some State Universities, since June 2023 (over 8months), constitutes an unbridled attack on and the erosion of the autonomy of the universities in violation of the extant laws of the universities.
“It has caused a major setback in the administration of universities with serious adverse consequences.
“Without Governing Councils, universities are hamstrung and at the mercy of unscrupulous Vice Chancellors and their cohorts in the Federal and State Ministries of Education, who illegally assume the function of the administration of the universities by awarding contracts, approving promotions and recruitment.
“These anomalies and aberrations are abominable and totally unacceptable to our Union.
“The Union, therefore, calls on Federal and State Governments to immediately reverse the dissolution of Governing Councils where they were dissolved without serving out their tenures, and to without further delay reconstitute Governing Councils whose tenures have expired,” it stressed.
