ASUU decries victimisation of members in some universities

The University of Jos Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has decried the victimisation of its members in some public universities.

Prof. Jurbe Molwus, its chairperson, at a news conference on Tuesday in Jos, accused the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Kogi State University (KSU), Anyingba, and Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, of such victimisation.

Others included Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma, the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam.

The Chairperson alleged that some victimised lecturers had their appointments either illegally terminated or suspended, adding that others were denied promotion or had their salaries withheld.

”At LASU, there has been a running battle against our union, which manifested in the victimisation of some leaders.

”Due to the unpatriotic actions of the state government, KSU Anyigba is today a shadow of itself; it has fallen short of the dreams of its founding fathers, with our members being punished without any offence.

”At FUTO, the Vice Chancellor has continued to punish our faithful members because of their patriotic stance against the illegal appointment of Dr. Isa Pantami to the rank of a Professor.

”Our secretariat at COOU is under lock and key, and our members are prevented from holding meetings; their salaries have been withheld for over a year.

“Some of them have been suspended mainly because they are against the violation of academic standards in the university.

”In all of these, our members have suffered and are still suffering untold hardship. So, we want a stop on the victimisation of our members in public universities,” he said.

Molwus explained that the continuous victimisation of ASUU members was responsible for the current brain drain in Nigerian universities.

The chairperson called on the judiciary to speedily dispense justice on matters concerning ASUU members currently before them.