By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), said that no fewer than 400 members of the union, had been sacked in the last 10 or 15 years by proprietors of members institutions, who persecuted them for fighting for their rights and interest of university system.
The intimidation and persecution, ASUU said, were common in state owned institutions as governors, who are visitors to these institutions, don’t tolerate opposing views and policies, which lecturers saw as not being in the interest of education system in their respective universities.
The immediate past Chairman of ASUU, University of Lagos chapter, Dr. Dele Ashiru disclosed this at the weekend while speaking with journalists at the end of Leadership Training Workshop, organised by the union for new Executive.
During the workshop held at the ASUU Auditorium within the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, Ogun State branch, participants were exposed to topics, such as qualities required of leaders of the union for effective performances, principles of collective bargaining and negotiation.
The training also equiped them with the requisite knowledge and skills to enhance commitment to roles as union leaders by tested former leaders of the union, including Dele Ashiru and Dr.Siji Sowande who served as resource persons.
Citing the case of members at the Kogi State University where over 100 of them were sacked, Ashiru said deliberate persecution of the union members, has affected the morale of lecturers, adding that the union often clashes with management of institutions, due to unpalatable policies of the management, which often based on political consideration.
“Ha ! There are not less than 400. In Kogi State alone there are 140. Kogi State University alone is 140. There were sacked by the then Governor Yahaya Bello. In LASU 5, all across the country once they see that a Union is vibrant. In Ekpoma, our members are constantly at daggers drawn with the governor of the state over the shenanigans that they were doing in the university. So, there is a whole lot of war against our members just because we insist that the right thing should be done in the university system. There are a quite a number of them that have been sacked,” Ashiru said.
He said that the union had been standing against persecution and would continue to fight for the genuine interest of its members, stressing the union would not tolerate any unethical behaviour from any of its members.
Ashiru said “ASUU had been supporting their members, that were persecuted for fighting for the interest of the union and for betterment of the University system and will continue to do this if it is in collective interest.
“On the other hand, the union, had sanctioned many erring members who engaged in unethical practices and will still do so if there are confirmed infractions
“ASUU as a union, has zero tolerance for unethical practices and will continue to emphasise this to its members. The union does not tolerate indiscipline of any sort.”
Also speaking, Acting branch Chairman, ASUU-OOU, Dr. Wasiu Olooto, said the organised the workshop, to educate the union executive to know what is expected of them in discharging their roles and to also know their limitations while discharging their functions.
Olooto said participants at the workshop, are expected to take the message and experience gathered to their respective offices and committee levels, for effective dissemination.
Harping on the Union’s zero tolerance, he said the training also prepared the executive to identify and steer clear of actions that could compromise them or jeopardize their ability to fight injustice and persecution on behalf of the Union.
