The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said the
University of Ilorin ‘has become a terrorist organization as far as industrial
relation is concerned.’
ASUU in a statement on Sunday by Dr Ade Adejumo and Dr
Deji Omole Zonal; Coordinator of the Ibadan Zone of ASUU, and Chairman,
University of Ibadan Chapter after the sacking the ASUU chairman in the school,
Dr. Kayode Afolayan by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali said that
it was the height of impunity to sack a person ‘for exposing the impunity,
lawlessness and disregard for due process’ in the University. The statement
read thus: “The outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali took all
these to an unprecedented height when in 2015, he smuggled his wife, Dr (Mrs)
Taiwo Toyin Ambali, into the University through the temporary appointment route
as Lecturer 1. By 2016, less than one year later, she had been promoted to the
rank of Senior Lecturer, when the regulation specifies at least three years
before such a promotion could take place. ‘Our branch Chairperson, Dr Kayode
Afolayan, on behalf of the union, signed a letter addressed to the Council to
look into the infringement against the university Rules and Regulations
committed by Prof Ambali. ‘However, rather that retrace his steps, the outgoing
Vice Chancellor issued a query to the branch Chairperson, Dr. Kayode Afolayan,
alleging that they circulated an unspecified “leaflet” against the
Vice-Chancellor. ‘The Union promptly alerted members of the public to the evil
plans of Prof Ambali to sack our officers in Unilorin. Just yesterday, 21st
September, 2017, the University Administration completed another cycle of
impunity, lawlessness and disregard for due process with the termination of
appointments of the branch Chairperson. “This very unfortunate development has
again exposed the evil going on in the University of Ilorin. The university has
devised all means to suppress legitimate industrial activities in order to
avoid exposure of its misdeeds. ‘Indeed, the university prides itself in its
ability to “kill off” staff and students that are connected in any way to ASUU
leadership. ‘This hate crime on the part of the university is usually carried
out under the guise of “uninterrupted academic calendar”. Yet, many
universities have also maintained a stable academic calendar without destroying
union members or their careers. “To all intents and purposes, UNILORIN has
become a terrorist organization as far as industrial relation is concerned.
Equally worrisome is the seeming connivance of relevant authorities with
Unilorin in its dastardly pursuit. For example, our union, since December 2016,
had submitted petitions to the EFCC, ICPC and the CCB but until now results of
“ongoing investigations” have not been made known to the public.. “Our union
also wrote petitions to the Ministry of Education and the Visitor to the School
but no concrete step has been taken. The silence by these relevant agencies and
authorities casts serious doubt on the commitment of government in the
anti-graft war especially in the University of Ilorin where there are glaring
manifestations of corruption. This has emboldened UNILORIN to embark on the
victimization of the whistle blowers in the university. “Our union wishes to
reiterate that it will not sit by and watch the continuous victimization of its
members in the University of Ilorin. We warn that the crisis of the University of
Ilorin is once again on the verge of ballooning into a national crisis
reminiscent of 2001 when the same university sacked 49 academics in one fell
swoop. “The union calls on all well-meaning Nigerians and the appropriate
authorities to intervene urgently to restore justice in the university and
stave off a needless crisis. Members of the public and the press are also to
take note that, in line with the union’s constitution and code of practice, the
purportedly sacked Chairman of the branch remains the bonafide Chairman of the
Union in UNILORIN.” “The University of Ilorin had on the 19th September, 2017
in a letter titled: “ Termination of Appointment” signed by the Registrar and
Secretary to the Council of the university E. D. Obafemi stated that “Council
at its 155th meeting held on Monday 28th August 2017 considered the report from
the 41st meeting of staff disciplinary committee held on Wednesday 7th June
2017, 8th June 2017 and Thursday June 2017 and approved that your services are
no longer required. Consequently it directed that you should be relieved of
your appointment. Accordingly your appointment is hereby terminated with effect
from the date of this letter”
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