The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Sunday branded the
University of Ilorin (Unilorin) as a “terrorist organization” as far as
the industrial relation is concerned.
The union made it know in a statement after the institution
reportedly sacked the ASUU chairman in the school, Dr. Kayode Afolayan,
for allegedly ‘exposing the impunity, lawlessness and disregard for due
process’ in the University.
In the statement sighted on the Vanguard which was signed by Dr Ade
Adejumo and Dr. Deji Omole, the Zonal Coordinator of the Ibadan Zone of
ASUU and Chairman, University of Ibadan Chapter, they claimed that the
outgoing Vice-Chancellor at Unilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, who is
allegedly behind the termination of the ASUU chairman in the
school, illegally handed a temporal appointment to his wife Dr (Mrs)
Taiwo Toyin Ambali.
Read the full statement below…
“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. Gentlemen of the
press, 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 the 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 the 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 the 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
whistleblowers 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.’
The statement comes days after the Nigerian military branded the
pro-Biafra separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as a
militant “terrorist organization.”