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.
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.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/saraki-running-otuoke-varsity-without-due-process-say-workers/