ASUU Decries Victimisation of Members

• ASUU raises concerns over victimization of university members, citing suspensions and salary withholding, warning of potential industrial unrest
• The union emphasizes the need for university autonomy and adherence to the rule of law to prevent further conflicts

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abuja zone, has raised concerns over what it describes as the mistreatment of its members in several public universities across Nigeria.

During a news briefing on Thursday in Abuja, Salihu Muhammed Lawal, the ASUU Zonal Coordinator for Abuja, stated that members have faced various forms of victimization. These include suspensions, denial of promotions, withholding of salaries, dismissals without due process, and suppression of the union’s activities.

Lawal warned that if these issues are not addressed, they could lead to industrial unrest among ASUU members. He stated, “There is a trend in our public universities that may lead to unwarranted and avoidable industrial disharmony because our Union would not sit idly and allow visitors to the universities, and some overzealous university administrators erode the culture of academic excellence and rule of law as guaranteed in the university Acts and ultimately, the Constitution of the Federal Republic.”

He cited Kogi State University as a specific example of victimization that began due to its operators’ and visitors’ lack of understanding of university governance. He said, “The system’s autonomy has always been infringed upon, leading to a frosty relationship between the union and the university management.” This situation escalated when the university administration began violating the rights of academic staff, eventually leading to a strike and the dismissal of 120 members.

Lawal highlighted similar cases in other universities, such as Lagos State University (LASU), Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Ambrose Alli University (AAUE) in Edo State, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) in Anambra State, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

At LASU, he mentioned, “there was a reckless clampdown on the union’s activities and outright victimization of the union’s leadership.” In EBSU, political interference resulted in the mistreatment of ASUU members, and in COOU, the university administration’s actions have led to the persecution of union members and the crippling of union activities on campus.

ASUU called on all relevant authorities in state and federal universities to urgently address these issues to prevent further campus conflicts.