UNIABUJA Crisis update

A factional group of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, UNIABUJA chapter, under the aegis of Integrity ASUU, has dissociated itself from threats to shut down the institution.

UNIABUJA ASUU had demanded that President Goodluck Jonathan constitute a special visitation panel to the institution or face industrial action.

In a statement in Abuja on Sunday, the Integrity ASUU said asking the President to constitute such a panel would breach the university’s autonomy.

The statement was signed by Dr. Mohammed Damagun and Dr. Peter Maidoki, Chairman and Secretary of the group respectively.

The group described the demands by the Dr. Clement Chup-led ASUU as “unreasonable”.

The statement read in part, “Reasons forwarded by the Integrity Group regarding this unreasonable demand by the splinter group are stated thus:

“The action is tantamount to breach of the autonomy of institution’s principle, which restricts the Presidency and other agencies from interfering in the internal administration of universities.

“Note that ASUU struggled for several years to get government signed the agreement on autonomy.

“The manner in which the demand notice was served leaves much to be desired since the university was recently visited by a presidential panel which covered events of the past and even the present administration.

“Similarly, the university is undergoing a turnaround exercise with committees set up to see to the development and accreditation of all relevant academic programmes under the supervision of the NUC with full knowledge and support of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

They allege that “Those pushing for the said action are doing so for selfish reasons only because evidence have shown that they have some personal scores to settle with the current Vice-Chancellor.”

The group appealed to government to meet its obligations by releasing the funds promised the university towards infrastructural development.

The statement added, “We would like to inform the general public and the entire University of Abuja community that; “we stand strongly opposed to the idea of embarking on an indefinite strike on flimsy reasons such as the failure of government to send a visitation panel to the university.”