ASUU faults Kwara VC over suspension of members, demands immediate recall

Prof. Abdul-RasheedNa’Allah

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) University of Ibadan (UI) chapter has condemned the alleged unilateral suspension of six executive members of the union by the Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University (KWASU) Professor Abdul-RasheedNa’Allah for participating in union activities.

The Ibadan zonal coordinator, Prof SegunAjiboye described the action of the university as autocratic and a breach of the fundamental rights of the academic staff members to freedom of association granted by the Nigerian constitution after informing the management of the Institution of its plan to hold a congress.

The Six suspended lecturers included DrDaudaAdeshola (Chairman), Dr Gafaru OlaiwolaOlorisade (Secretary), Professor Innocent Okoye, Professor Christopher Odetunde, DrAyotundeAlao and Mr Paul KunleDairo.

The Suspended members were barred from having access to the university campus; will face Senior Staff disciplinary committee; hand-over all university properties in their possession to the Head of Department or Provost; and will be placed on half salary until the resolution of the matter.

Kwara State University, is under the Ibadan Zone of ASUU being coordinated by Professor SegunAjiboye.
Ajiboye in a statement said academic Staff members at the Kwara State University have been granted observer status in ASUU at the last National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Imo State University, Owerri from 10th to 11th October 2015.

While demanding the immediate recall of the suspended ASUU members, Prof Ajiboye called on the Kwara State Governor, Abdulfattah Ahmed to prevail on the university administration to allow free unionism and academic freedom for the total liberation of education struggle in Nigeria.

In a letter titled ‘Suspension from Duty’ signed by the Registrar, Kwara State University (KWASU), Surajudeen Oyebode and addressed to the suspended members, the institution claimed that “It has been reported to the University management that on Tuesday 28th, 2015 you were among a group of academic staff found holding a meeting in the Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Open Theatre for which no permission was granted for the use of the facility.

In an attempt by the Chief Safety Officer of the University to explain to the gathering that the facility could not be used for the meeting since there was no permission sought or granted, he was not only abused in the process, he was harassed as well by the group”

According to the University, “Using the VPA Open Theatre without official permission and harassing and abusing an officer of the University while performing his lawful duty have been deemed to be acts of gross misconduct which are not only inimical to the integrity of the University but also undermined the authority of the University”

Consequently, the registrar stated that the university management approved the suspension of the six academic staff with immediate effect until further notice having “contravened the extant provisions of the Code of Conduct for Staff”