The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has accused the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, of recruiting holders of National Certificate in Education (NCE), members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and even undergraduates to replace about 150 lecturers dismissed from the Kogi State University.
The Union stated this in a news briefing by Prof Ike Odimegwu, the Owerri Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, in Awka, Anambra State on Friday.
Odimegwu said the governor’s action was capable of destroying the Nigerian University Education and ridiculing her certificates in the global community.
“This arrogant display of power and abuse of office by Mr. Yahaya Bello speaks volume about the extent to which some political office holders could go to crush perceived opposition in their bid to emasculate and enslave Nigerians so as to fulfil their ambition towards destroying the public education system.
“After the sack of the over 150 seasoned lecturers, Mr. Yahaya Bello resorted to the recruitment of unqualified individuals such as laboratory attendants, members of the National Youth Service Corps, NCE holders and even undergraduate students to replace them.
“These actions of Mr. Yahaya Bello amount to gross violation of International Labour Law, the Constitution of Nigeria and all known best practices in the university system.”
Bello had in July 2017 announced the proscription of all ASUU activities in the University and followed it with the sacking of over 150 academic staff of the University who were on a lawful struggle to press for the payment of the backlog of their salaries.
Odimegwu said, “These lawless actions are clear manifestations of arrogance and a very high level of ignorance on the side of Mr. Yahaya Bello vis-a-vis the limits of his power as the State Governor and failure of appreciation of the essence of a University.”
The Union also accused the Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. Lanre Adigun Fagbohun of victimizing ASUU members in the university for no just cause, calling on the Lagos State Governor, Akiwumi Ambode, to intervene and save the university from impunity and dictatorship.
He said ASUU members have been given shabby treatments in the course of its struggles for just and equitable society. He said they have been subjected several times to various forms of victimization and that the group would no longer tolerate such treatment.
ASUU Owerri Zone comprises Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Imo State University, Owerri; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
