The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University of Technology, Minna, has condemned what it calls, the latest discoveries about illicit recruitment tactics in the institution.
A statement by the Chairperson of ASUU, Professor Gbolahon Bolarin, says they are highly concerned by the university administration’s flagrant disregard for due process, and infringement of university autonomy.
According to the statement, claims of manipulation in recruitment procedures, aimed at reducing academic appointments are alarming and inappropriate.
Bolarin cited, for example, that a Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, through his Senior Legislative Aid (SLA), proudly displayed in public, the letters of employment of two individuals that benefited from the illegal recruitment process, which was captured as a constituency project.
He added that, as a union of academics, they are worried about the connivance between the university administration, politicians, and staff of the Accountant General Office, IPPIS, to be specific, to undermine the integrity of academic appointments.
The union is also asking all concerned to retrace their steps, to prevent avoidable disharmony in the university, threatening that they will not sit back and allow the university to be reduced to a glorified secondary school, due to the quality of its academic staff.
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Bolarin further said that the Federal Government had announced in December 2023, that universities are now exempted from IPPIS.
It was now worrisome when staff of IPPIS were sighted on campus in March, capturing about one hundred people, recruited without advertisement and/or interview.
He stressed that ASUU FUT Minna branch, stands in solidarity with the academic community, in seeking openness, responsibility, and the protection of university and academic integrity and autonomy.
ASUU chairperson alleged that some of the infractions are possible because of the lack of a governing council in federal universities, as a result of which many vice chancellors are now hiding under approval or waiver from the Minister of Education and Head of Service, to circumvent laid-down rules and procedures.
The union calls on the President who is Visitor to Federal Universities, to urgently reinstate the Governing Councils on all campuses.
(Editor: Ena Agbanoma)
