The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has decried the victimisation, intimidation, harassment, and dehumanisation of its members in some public universities.
In a statement issued by the Kano State Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Abdulkadir Mohammad, in Kano on Saturday, September 14, 2024, the union cited insistences of non-compliance to due process and adherence to regulations governing the Nigerian university system.
Mr Mohammed expressed concern over the development, stating that university administrations, governing councils, and visitors (governors) were not acting in the best interest of public universities.
He also identified Kogi State University (KSU), Lagos State University (LASU), Ebonyi State University (EBSU), and Ambrose Alli University (AAU) as suspects.
Others, he said included the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) as institutions where ASUU members face callous victimisation.
Specifically, Mr Mohammed mentioned that 120 institutions have unjustly dismissed ASUU members in KSU since 2017, largely because they demand better working conditions and welfare packages.
“There is the illegal dismissal of the ASUU-LASU chairperson and Vice Chairperson in 2017 for insisting on due process.
“There was also the dismissal of ASUU-LASU Secretary and Assistant Secretary in 2019 for questioning wrongful promotions and the suspension of EBSU ASUU chairperson and secretary for convening meetings,” he said.
He vowed that ASUU would explore all legal avenues to ensure reinstatement of sacked members.
He called on university administrations, governing councils, and governors to reinstate suspended or dismissed ASUU members.
“They should also address denial of promotion, non-payment of backlogged salaries and arrears and respect fundamental human rights and freedom of association.
He condemned the dehumanisation and violation of members’ rights, urging authorities to take immediate action to address that.
