Workers in the Federal University, Otuoke, (FUO), Bayelsa State,
have accused the institution’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairperson of the
Governing Council, Gbemisola Saraki of running the university like a
personal business without due process.
The workers under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the university, comprising the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) faulted Saraki’s leadership style.
They alleged that Saraki failed to receive a report of a properly-constituted Committee on Staff Verification established to look into the issues of staff welfare, promotions and salary disparity.
The committee, which was also mandated to verify tax remittances, pension remission, statutory allowances, confirmation of appointment, was said to have submitted its report to the Governing Council.
According to the workers instead of Saraki to work on the report of
the committee, she abandoned it and unilaterally set up a separate
Ad-Hoc Committee to consider staff welfare and complaints.
Saraki’s ad-hoc committee was also asked to probe the protest that occurred in the institution on May 23, 2017.
The workers in a communique issued last weekend after the end of their emergency meeting held at the ASUU Secretariat Complex of the university, rejected the new ad-hoc committee.
They insisted on knowing the outcome of the first committee.
The document was signed by Chairman, ASUU, Dr. Joseph Omoro; Chairman, SSANU, Kalizibe Joseph; Chairman, NAAT, Ama Uduma and Chairman, NASU, Bestman Egba.
They further said that the pro-chancellor was conducting the meeting of the institution’s governing council in Abuja instead of FUO.
They threatened to shut down the university if after 21 days
ultimatum, with effect from Friday, June 23, 2017, the council failed to
address all the issues raised in the communique.
The communique said: ”Members of the unions demand the immediate release and implementation of the verification report. In this way, staff complaints, staff issues and staff welfare will be resolved and subsequent fallouts can then be addressed.
”We, therefore, wish to state that the constitution of another Governing Council Ad-Hoc Committee on staff complaints, staff issues and staff welfare is completely unacceptable and is, therefore, rejected.
”That the failure to release and implement the original reports on staff verification undermines the integrity of the council and breaches the trust between council and unions.
”We forbid any member of the four unions from participating in the activities of the Ad-hoc committee either as a member or as a respondent.
”The Pro-Chancellor should be reminded that the council is constituted on the basis of representation to include internal and external members of the university community, hence the decision of the council should be collective.”
The workers argued that the establishment of the ad-hoc committee was deliberately conceived and designed to create industrial unrest in the university.
They accused Saraki of making herself a ”demigod” and failing to move the university forward through collaborations and interactions and with stakeholders.
The workers appealed to the council to carry out an assessment tour and audit of all projects in the university from 2011 to date.
They lamented that the audit was necessary because of the number of abandoned projects in the institution, which had become a source of worry and concern to them.
They also demanded the immediate constitution of the Central Appraisal and Promotions Committee (CAPC) to conclude all outstanding promotions, upgrades and proper placement of both teaching and non-teaching staff of the university.
The workers under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the university, comprising the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) faulted Saraki’s leadership style.
They alleged that Saraki failed to receive a report of a properly-constituted Committee on Staff Verification established to look into the issues of staff welfare, promotions and salary disparity.
The committee, which was also mandated to verify tax remittances, pension remission, statutory allowances, confirmation of appointment, was said to have submitted its report to the Governing Council.
Saraki’s ad-hoc committee was also asked to probe the protest that occurred in the institution on May 23, 2017.
The workers in a communique issued last weekend after the end of their emergency meeting held at the ASUU Secretariat Complex of the university, rejected the new ad-hoc committee.
They insisted on knowing the outcome of the first committee.
The document was signed by Chairman, ASUU, Dr. Joseph Omoro; Chairman, SSANU, Kalizibe Joseph; Chairman, NAAT, Ama Uduma and Chairman, NASU, Bestman Egba.
They further said that the pro-chancellor was conducting the meeting of the institution’s governing council in Abuja instead of FUO.
The communique said: ”Members of the unions demand the immediate release and implementation of the verification report. In this way, staff complaints, staff issues and staff welfare will be resolved and subsequent fallouts can then be addressed.
”We, therefore, wish to state that the constitution of another Governing Council Ad-Hoc Committee on staff complaints, staff issues and staff welfare is completely unacceptable and is, therefore, rejected.
”That the failure to release and implement the original reports on staff verification undermines the integrity of the council and breaches the trust between council and unions.
”We forbid any member of the four unions from participating in the activities of the Ad-hoc committee either as a member or as a respondent.
”The Pro-Chancellor should be reminded that the council is constituted on the basis of representation to include internal and external members of the university community, hence the decision of the council should be collective.”
The workers argued that the establishment of the ad-hoc committee was deliberately conceived and designed to create industrial unrest in the university.
They accused Saraki of making herself a ”demigod” and failing to move the university forward through collaborations and interactions and with stakeholders.
The workers appealed to the council to carry out an assessment tour and audit of all projects in the university from 2011 to date.
They lamented that the audit was necessary because of the number of abandoned projects in the institution, which had become a source of worry and concern to them.
They also demanded the immediate constitution of the Central Appraisal and Promotions Committee (CAPC) to conclude all outstanding promotions, upgrades and proper placement of both teaching and non-teaching staff of the university.
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