“On the advertisement for the position of vice-chancellor, so far, five federal universities have advertised for the position of vice-chancellor, and none of the five universities have embarked on a strike.
“The question begging the mind of everyone, staff, and the public, is why would ASUU, University of Abuja alone, proceed on an indefinite strike when the University of Maiduguri, How do Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, ATBU Bauchi, and others sustain the sanctity of a stable academic calendar on their campuses?
“We say no to strikes over issues that are not peculiar to the University of Abuja! The chairman of ASUU, University of Abuja branch, in addressing the congress this morning in a fascist manner, as no member was allowed to either comment or make observations, mischievously brought up these issues:
- ASUU received a letter reallocating a member to the Union in the proposed UniAbuja Microfinance Bank on April 15, 2024. This was the same bank he and his cult-like group had written to the Central Bank of Nigeria not to grant the University a licence without any basis but to sabotage the university and the VC’s goal-driven efforts to reposition the University.
- Calling the promotion process illegal because the Minister of Education monitors and approves the process as directed by the visitor, President Tinubu. This was a process followed by all other federal universities in the promotion process since councils were dissolved. The same process earned the local Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary of ASUU, University of Abuja, Sylvanus Ugoh, Associate Professor elevation.
- Describing the recruitment process duly approved by the Federal Government as illegal: This came as a rude shock to Congress, as it is not known at any time that it is the ASUU local executives that approve appointments of deserving new staff into the system. With the increasing demands for more faculty members to fill the obvious shortages, should genuinely academic unions be desirous of unfettered quality education? Wage war against filling faculty positions?
Obviously, the cabal dictating to the Dr. Sylvanus-led local ASUU desperately wanted a strike to satisfy their personal interests, but never the larger interests of ASUU members and the University of Abuja.
Members of ASUU are here, standing for several other members with like minds but unavoidably absent, to reassure students, parents, and members of the public that we will protect the sanctity of the University of Abuja’s robust academic calendar and continue to work for the continuous opening of university operations.
“We vehemently demand that ASUU must work for ASUU and not a hidden cabal out to take the University of Abuja back to the inglorious yesteryears. A decision to go on an indefinite strike without, at any point, seeking members of ASUU’s vote for or against is absolutely not the ASUU procedure for calling a strike. So, the so-called strike remains unrepresentative of the larger members of ASUU and cannot stand.
WE SAY NO TO strikes. Dr. A.G. Kari Dean and former convener of the ASUU National Political Committee
Engr. Professor Mohammed Gana, Ex-Nigeria Ambassador to Japan, HOD, Agric Engineering.
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