ASUU raises alarm over state of LASU, Kogi varsity

ACADEMIC Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed concern over the style of administration of the Kogi and Lagos State universities by the managements and visitors to the institutions.

The union also enjoined the public to intervene to ensure the immediate recall of the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the union that were sacked allegedly for their stand against the ills being perpetrated by the universities.

Coordinator for the Nsukka zone of ASUU, Professor Ukooh Ikoni, said this while speaking with newsmen at the Kogi State University, Anyigba (KSU).

He urged the Lagos State government to investigate the conduct of the administration of LASU in relation to the allegation of gross misappropriation of funds.

“Since the governing councils of KSU and LASU have demonstrated gross incompetence in the management of university affairs, we demand the immediate dissolution of the councils and reconstitution of new ones in line with laid-down procedures of the universities.

“If this fails, the union will have no other option but to compel the administrations and visitors of these two universities to do so using all legitimate means possible at our disposal,” he said.

Ikoni said there was the need for further education of the public on the situation in KSU and LASU, saying despite the wide condemnation of the proscription of ASUU in KSU and the sack of over 150 academics of high profile, impunity still reigns as the government and the university administration persist in these acts.

“If the university was near comatose before the present administration came, it has certainly dealt the final blow to kill it. We have stated that the heavy tax regime in KSU before the coming of this administration was and still remains one of the causative agents of mass exodus of high-profile staff trained by the system.

“The coming in of Governor Yahaya Bello has decided to impose a heavier tax burden in defiance of all principles of taxation. With the simple law of economics, Kogi State University will only serve as a transit camp for lecturers if this persists,” he stated.

He added that the “continuous sack, humiliation, termination of appointments, use of students to threaten the life, destruction of properties of their members in KSU, persistent use of security agencies to arrest and intimidate members in LASU,” had indicated the deplorable state and total mismanagement of the universities by their administrations and visitors.

ASUU said the vice chancellors and pro-chancellors of both universities had consistently exhibited the power of a one-eyed monster, speaking from both sides of the mouth.

“If at all our colleagues in KSU and LASU have committed any sin, it is the sin of insisting that there must be quality education for the citizens of this country and that quality education can be achieved without increase in school fees,” he said.