The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has demanded an immediate end to the alleged victimisation and sack of its members in some public institutions, including Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki.
The Calabar zone of ASUU made the demand during a solidarity rally held at the EBSU permanent site in Abakiliki on Tuesday.
The union’s zonal coordinator, Happiness Uduk, said the rally was part of the events to mark the “Victimised Lecturer Day”.
Ms Uduk said that ending the victimisation and sacking of union members would help to engender peace in institutions.
“We are here to show solidarity with our EBSU branch and protest the unwarranted victimisation of our members.
“Pained by the intimidation and victimisation of our members, who are fighting for positive outcomes in the Nigerian universities, we are here to speak in the interest of peace.
“We, therefore, call for the reinstatement of the 120 academic staff of Kogi State University, dismissed illegally for over seven years from 2017 to date,” said Ms Uduk.
She decried the way the members of staff of the listed institutions had suffered victimisation in the form of suspension, promotion denial, unpaid salaries and sacks.
Ms Uduk said some affected members work at the Lagos State University, Kogi State University, Abia State University, and Uturu.
“They were sacked for participating in a legitimate action, demanding better welfare for members, especially payment of backlog of salaries and allowances, proper funding, university autonomy, and academic freedom.
“In EBSU, many infractions have been experienced by a handful of our members, which include victimisation. The EBSU branch chairperson, Ikechuku Igwenyi, was suspended,” she said.
Ms Uduk said Mr Igwenyi was denied promotion since 2017 and was banned from the institution’s premises, while others were suspended and placed on half salaries without due process and fair hearing.
“Comrades Idenyi and Igwenyi have remained suspended without trial for 34 months,” Ms Uduk said.
In a speech, the EBSU-ASUU chairman, Mr Igwenyi, also begged for his reinstatement and payment of his salaries.
Several efforts to get the EBSU management’s reaction were unsuccessful as the university’s spokesman, Patrick Itumo, could not be reached, nor did he respond to text messages sent to his cellphone.
(NAN)