A faction of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institution (ASURI), the ASURI reform group has accused the leadership of the union of misappropriation of the union’s funds.
According to them, the leadership represented by the Secretary General, Dr. TCN Ndubuaku, and the Central Working Committee (CWC) led by the President, Dr. Adebayo Ajala, through their activities and refusal to tolerate opposing views have factionalized ASURI and plunged the union into unwarranted debt.
The group said that although the constitution requires that NEC meetings be held every four months, none took place for over four years which would have been an avenue to air all grievances.
Chairman of the Electronics Development Institute branch ASURI, Oluwaseyi Ogungbenro who said this in a press conference Friday in Abuja, added that the faction is supported by 30 branches of ASURI.
He added that ASURI NEC was not allowed by the skewed system deliberately put in place by the Secretary General to perform the function of participating in the administration of funds of the union as stated by the constitution.
He said, “We are seeking redress, the first action being taken is that we are contacting the Ministry of Labour which is the supervisory ministry over the union, which we have done severally and after that we will precede to court. We are asking for the union to be run according to the constitution of the union and we intend to go to court to seek redress.
“ASURI leadership represented by the Secretary General, Dr. TCN Ndubuaku and the central working committee led by the President Dr. Adebayo Ajala through their activities and refusal to tolerate opposing views have factionalized ASURI and plunged her into unwarranted debt and disregard for ASURI’s constitution.
“Note also that ASURI NEC is not allowed by the skewed system deliberately put in place by the Sec Gen to perform the function of participating in the administration of fund of the union as stated by the constitution see Rule 17 (c) “The Delegates Conference or the National Executive Council acting on behalf of the Delegates Conference shall have power to deploy the funds of the Union in such manner as may be found necessary and expedient; never for once has the NEC been carried along in the administration of ASURI funds.”
