From Attah Ede Makurdi

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (ASUU-FUAM), yesterday declared September 10 as “Victimised Lecturers’ Day” to be observed annually by the academic staff across universities in Nigeria.Consequently, the union has demanded for immediate reinstatement of 125 lecturers of the Kogi and Lagos State Universities who were sacked by the Kogi and Lagos State Governments respectively to avert further death of affected members due to hardship.

The union also called on Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State and his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sanwolu to quickly heed to the union’s demand and reinstate the affected lecturers, stating that many of them are currently passing through pains and economic hardships while so many others are already dead.ASUU-FUAM lamented that lecturers who are their members across Nigeria Universities have over the years been “targeted for victimization”.They listed some of the universities their members were being victimised to include; Kogi State University (KSU), Lagos State University (LASU), Ebonyi State University, (EBSU), Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma and the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO).The Chairman of ASUU-FUAM, Comrade Paul Anyah, who stated this at a press conference in Makurdi, frowned at the situation, maintaining that the trend has threatened the integrity of the nation’s higher education system in Nigeria.”In recent months, ASUU has witnessed a surge in incidents where university managements have systematically persecuted academic staff members who advocate for better conditions in Nigerian universities.”The lecturers at the affected institutions have faced various forms of punishment with some suspended or summarily dismissed without adherence to due process. Others have been denied promotions, and many more have been denied salaries for challenging administrative misconduct and advocating for academic welfare.“Given the circumstances, ASUU has declared September 10, 2024 as “Victimized Lecturers’ Day,” a day of national solidarity for persecuted academics to spotlight the struggles faced by persecuted members across Nigerian universities.”The University of Agriculture Makurdi branch of ASUU (ASUU-FUAM) is standing in solidarity by bringing the attention of relevant stakeholders and the general public to the needless, unfair and agonizing conditions that our members are enduring, clearly aimed at silencing the advocacy for a better university education.””ASUU-FUAM, therefore called on the Governor of Kogi state Ahmed Ododo, to reinstate the “KSU 120” stating with pains that out of the 120 lecturers, a good number of them were already dead.”These academics were removed from their positions in 2017 after engaging in legitimate actions demanding better welfare for staff. We also urged the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwolu, to reinstate the “LASU 5″ as a demonstration of his commitment to justice and rejection of victimization.””ASUU-FUAM is also calling on the federal and state governments as well as university administrations to immediately halt all victimization efforts and work towards building a peaceful and supportive academic environment”, he stated.Paul Anyah said the union is steadfast in safeguarding the rights of its members and maintaining Nigerian universities as a shining example of intellectual freedom and advancement.The Zonal Coordinator ASUU Nsukka Zone, Raphael Amokaha said the union has been having a running battle with university managements to the point that some cases are in court.Amokaha acknowledged that the union is anticipating a fair judgement on the cases in court.”For all other branches where our colleagues are being victimized, we shall follow a peaceable approach, a legal approach but we feel that for the purpose of expediency, it’s better to settle it politically, through dialogue.”However, in a situation where we feel that the proprietor is not ready to listen or follow the legitimate procedures, we may have no option than to go back and do some stock taking and if it means going on an action, we will not shy away from it.”