ASUU Calls on Kogi, Lagos State Governments to Recall Members

Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has called on the members of the public to prevail on the Administration and Visitor to Lagos State University and Kogi State University to immediately recall the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Union whose appointments were allegedly terminated because of their stand against the ills being perpetrated by the University.

The Zonal Coordinator of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nsukka Zone, Professor Ukooh David Ikoni made this known yesterday during a press conference at the Kogi State University Anyigba.

He noted that the government of Lagos State should setup a machinery to investigate the conduct of the Administration in relation to the allegation of gross misappropriation of funds.

“Since the Governing Councils of KSU and LASU have demonstrated gross incompetence in the management of University affairs, we demand the immediate dissolution of the Councils and reconstitution of new ones in line with laid down procedures of the Universities.

“If this fails, the Union will have no other option but to compel the Administrations and Visitors of these two Universities to do so using all legitimate means possible at our disposal.

He mentioned that the situation in Kogi and Lagos State Universities demand further elucidation, adding that from most quarters there had been wide condemnation of the proscription of ASUU in Kogi State University and the sack of over 150 academics of high profile, impunity still reigned as the government and the University Administration persist in these acts.

“If the University was near comatose before the present administration came, it has certainly dealt the final blow to kill it. We have severally stated that the heavy tax regime in KSU before the coming of this administration was and still remains one of the causative agents of mass exodus of high profile staff trained by the system.

“The coming in of Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, has decided to impose a heavier tax burden in defiance of all principles of taxation. With the simple law of Economics, Kogi State University will only serve as a transit camp for lecturers if this persists,” he stated.

He added that the continuous sack, throw out, humiliation, termination of appointments, the use of students to threaten the life and destruction of properties of their members in KSU, persistent use of security agencies to arrest and intimidate their members in LASU, have indicated the deplorable state and total mismanagement of these State Universities by their University Administrations and Visitors namely, Messrs Yahaya Adoza Bello and Ambode Akinwumi.

“It is noteworthy that the Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors of KSU and LASU have consistently exhibited the power of a one-eyed monster, where they speak from both sides of their mouths.

“If at all our colleagues in KSU and LASU have committed any sin it is the sin of insisting that there must be quality education for the citizens of this country and that quality education can be achieved without increase in school fees,” he stressed.

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