MEMBERS of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in several universities across the country observed yesterday as a work-free day in solidarity with their colleagues at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), over the alleged arbitrary breach and abuse of procedure by the university’s visitor, Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
The universities where the one-day strike was observed include the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi (FUAM), the Benue State University (BSU), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) the University of Jos (UNIJOS), the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna and Niger Delta University (NDU).
Meanwhile, to underscore its determination to right the wrongs at RSUST, the leadership of ASUU has directed that academic activities be suspended in all the nation’s universities today.
Addressing reporters yesterday in Ibadan, ASUU Chairman of the University of Ibadan (UI), Dr. Segun Ajiboye, faulted Governor Amaechi on the re-appointment of Prof. Barikeme Fakae as RSUST’s Vice Chancellor and demanded he be relieved of his appointment.
At a joint press conference in Makurdi yesterday, ASUU Chairmen of FUAM and BSU, Dr. Ralph Amokaha and Dr. Celestine Aguoru respectively, decried the continued onslaught against their members in RSUST for protesting the illegal and immoral activities in that university.
Without mincing words, they condemned the appointment of Prof. Fakae in acting capacity as illegal after the expiration of his four-year tenure which has continued to generate widespread rejection and abhorrence in the face of platitudes of both the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Justice Kabiri-Whyte (rtd) and Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
“The Governor and Visitor to the university knew the appointment of Prof. Fakae in 2008 did not follow due process as spelt out in the University Law. He did not meet the seven years mandatory professorship practice in the first place and was not supposed to have applied, yet he did and came last during the selection process but Governor Amaechi still hoisted him on the university,” they said.
In Jos, ASUU-UNIJOS held a press briefing yesterday at the Unity Hall Secretariat of the university where branch Chairman of the union, Dr. Pam Yakubu and Secretary, Dr. John Galadima, also spoke about “the arbitrary imposition and re-appointment of the Vice Chancellor in acting capacity by the Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.”
“We have outlined clearly the issues therein. We call all well- meaning Nigerians to wade into the matter and get the Rivers State Governor to re-think his option,” they said.
On his part, Chairman of the ASUU at NDU, Amaassoma, Dr. Beke Tuboukiye, in a statement in Yenagoa alleged that Prof. Fakae sponsored thugs and fully armed police to violently disrupt a peaceful assembly of ASUU members on campus, which was to review the ongoing strike action in the school to protest against his appointment.
Tuboukiye claimed that the attack resulted in hospitalisation of the Chairman of the RSUST chapter of ASUU, Dr. Felix Igwe, whose head was smashed with a fire- extinguisher.
The one-day solidarity strike took its toll on the 69th inaugural lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) as members boycotted the event. UNN chapter Chairman of ASUU, Aloysius Okolie said it was in compliance with the directive by the ASUU national body that all members should stay at home yesterday.
The Chairman of ASUU, FUT Minna, Dr. Abdulfatai Jimoh, said: “The Miscellaneous Act of 2003 and the law establishing the university allows a single term of four years. It shows that Prof. Fakae cannot fall into the position of being appointed in any acting capacity after the end of his tenure.”
Meanwhile, at a press conference yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, the ASUU Chairman, EKSU branch, Dr. Ayan Adeleke, called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the alleged brutalisation of members of RSUST ASUU on August 15 this year by some policemen over the crisis surrounding the re-appointment of Prof. Fakae.
