The Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU), Abuja zone, has publicly criticized the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello for allegedly refusing to reinstate the 135 sacked lecturers of
the Kogi State University.
The Zonal Coordinator, Dr
Theophilus Lagi, who addressed news men on Monday at the University of
Abuja, said the Governor must obey a court judgment ordering the
reinstatement of the lecturers
.Lagi said the failure to do such was a violation of the rule of law.
The union also criticized the state
government for failing to pay the workers’ salaries despite “the huge
monthly revenue of N8bn accruing to the state.”
The state government had on August 14 sacked the striking lecturers for their refusal to return to work.
The sacking followed the proscription of
the ASUU KSU chapter by the governor after the institution resumed from
a seven-month strike. The lecturers had allegedly refused to resume
work after the strike.
Lagi, on Monday, however, took a swipe at the state government for allegedly refusing to obey a court order on the lecturers.
He said, “Prior to the mass sacking of
lecturers, the university had an academic staff strength of less than
400, forcing it to rely heavily on visiting and adjunct lecturers for
its main academic business. This depletion in the core and regular
academic staff strength means nothing but doom for all academic
programmes mounted by the university.
“Academic activities in the university
are currently being carried out by low- profile, inexperienced staff,
assisted by members of the National Youth Service Corps and
technologists. This mass sacking of the lecturers will have grave
implications for accreditation and even current quality of graduates and
their employability.
“ASUU sought the intervention of the
courts in the entire charade going in the university. A court of
competent jurisdiction has since ruled, restraining the governor and
ordering him to return to the status quo ante in the case of these 135
sacked lecturers.
“We call on the administration of Kogi
State University, Ayingba, and its visitor, Mr Yahaya Bello, to respect
the rule of law and let the voice of reason prevail.“We call on the administration of Kogi State University, Ayingba, and its visitor, Mr Yahaya Bello, to respect the rule of law and let the voice of reason prevail.
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