SSANU protests sack of 23 FUNAAB workers, indicts EFCC

MEMBERS of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) yesterday rallied support for the 23 workers sacked by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in Ogun State.

The association protested the sack by disrupting movement into the campus while they accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of betrayal by releasing the names of the whistleblowers to the management of FUNAAB.

As early at 6.30am on Monday, the SSANU members blocked entrance into the Alabata campus of the university with bonfires and vehicles were used in blocking the road, just as the aggrieved protesters continued to chant various anti-management songs.

But the university management reacted saying that efforts were being made to resolve the crisis.

GatewayMail observed that security personnel, who included men of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were monitoring the protest to ensure peace and prevent hoodlums from hijacking it.

The National Vice-President of SSANU, South Western zone, Alfred Jimoh, who addressed the protesters, charged FUNAAB Governing Council to recall their dismissed colleagues immediately and unconditionally.

Jimoh, however, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the activities of the university under the Vice-Chancellorship of Prof. Olusola Oyewole.

The SSANU leader stated that it was unbelievable that members of the association who demanded probity, accountability and transparency in the university’s financial handling were being punished unduly by FUNAAB management.

Jimoh said: “The Federal government should beam its searchlight on FUNNAB if truly and indeed they are sincere with the anti-corruption war.”

According to him, the decision of the university to sack the workers should be condemned in all ramifications by Nigerians of good conscience.

The university reacted to the protest by saying that the university’s activities were “slightly disrupted” by “individuals alleged to be members of the local and national chapters of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).”

It said in a news release signed by the Head, Directorate of Public Relations, Mrs. Emi’ Alawode, and made available to GatewayMail that the protesters barricaded the Isolu-Alabata Road leading to the university and made bonfires to express their dissatisfaction over the disengagement of some staff by the University Governing Council.

The university stated that the affected members were given ample opportunities to respond to the queries levelled against them, before the sanctions were taken. “According to the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mr. Mathew Ayoola, the action of the Governing Council is in line with the extant provisions of the University and was aimed at repositioning the University,” it explained.
The university also said: “However, the situation is currently under firm control. Members of the local branches of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), were at their duty posts, including other senior staff members of the University.

“In addition, the Students’ Union Week had begun, with various events lined-up for students, during the lecture-free week, which is in line with the approved University calendar.”

“Management wishes to assure members of the University community and the general public, that consultations are ongoing to ensure a lasting truce between all concerned,” the university stressed.