SSANU kicks, demands reversal

From Magnus Eze, Abuja

Two senior members of staff of the University of Abuja, who recently dragged the management of the institution to the anti-graft agencies, have been sacked by the Governing Council of the university for alleged insubordination.

The two workers had earlier been placed on suspension for eight months without salary. But their victimisation for allegedly exposing corruption in the institution has drawn the ire of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) who, yesterday, reiterated it’s call on the Federal Government to protect the whistle blowers in a bid to fight corruption in the system.

Termination of the appointments of the two workers came just four days after the burial of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the University’s Governing Council, Samuel Ogbemudia, in Benin City, as the governing council convened meeting on March 22 and 23, 2017, to effect the sack.

Before this period, SSANU had observed that the federal government was too slow in wielding the big stick on perpetrators of corrupt practices, either as convicts or suspects under investigation/trial as in the cases in the Nigerian University system in recent times.

SSANU, in a statement signed by its National President, Mr. Samson Ugwoke, said the suspension and termination of appointments of the two workers of the university constituted a gross violation of the whistle blowing policy of the present administration, which should not go unpunished.

The union called for the reversal of the termination of the appointments of the affected members, Comrades Jude Nwabueze and Nurudeen Yusuf by the management and council of the university within one week.

SSANU also demanded that the management and council of the University of Abuja should tender a strong apology to the federal government and the Nigerians for allegedly defying the orders of government and disregarding constituted authorities.

“The Union, SSANU, wishes to bring to the notice of the Nigerian public and the world at large that the reason the management of the university gave for the said termination of appointments is false. It is because of whistle blowing and union activities, and not insubordination as alleged,” the statement said.

SSANU, therefore, demanded that the records be put straight.

“The management of the university of Abuja got itself engulfed in unauthorised recruitment of members of staff without following due process, thus, over bloating the system.

“When the government of President Muhammadu Buhari came to power, and it was no more business as usual, coupled with the recession that greeted the country, the budget office stuck to the release of the actual budgetary provision for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“This led to ‘perceived shortfall in the university (Abuja) in 2015, as the university could not pay the entire members of staff their correct salaries. This and many other demands of the union (SSANU) in University of Abuja, including unpaid arrears of promotion and other welfare issues of members, gave rise to the crisis which heightened in 2015,” the union said.