By Patrick Ahanor
Benin City
The Benin zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has faulted the Kogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello’s proscription of the state varsity ASUU, declaring that the latter’s action is “laughable”.
This was just as the union condemned the sack of 150 lecturers in Kogi state University and another seven in Lagos state University.
The Kogi governor had in July declared the varsity’s ASUU proscribed, following a seven-month strike by lecturers over issues bordering on welfare.
Addressing journalists in Benin City, yesterday, the Benin zonal coordinator of ASUU, Anthony I. Monye-Emina, said whereas, “the salary arrears in dispute have not been paid to date, a reign of terror suffuse the university community.”
According to him, the denial of rights to lawful assembly and freedom of association, a fundamental human right, in this age and time, is highly condemnable.
“The governor’s action is an indication of the level of ignorance and poor understanding of the laws and institutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by political office holders like Yahaya Bello.”
“The people who swore on oath to uphold the Constitution of the land are the worst violators.
“Yahaya Bello should understand that ASUU is a national trade union chartered by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not Kogi state; and he has no power to proscribe the union,” he stated.
