FUNNAB sacks 23 SSANU members

The Governing Council, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNNAB), on Thursday, sacked 18 staff members of the institution, while five others were relieved of their appointments by the institution’s vice chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, earlier in the week.

The decision, according to information at the disposal of Tribune Online,  was reached at the end of a meeting presided over by the chairman of the Council, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, bringing the total of those sacked to 23.

All the affected staff were members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

Tribune Online gathered that those affected were the three members of the association, Comrades Lasun Somoye, Abdulsalaam Sobbor and E.A Bankole, who allegedly wrote a petition against the institution’s vice chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole  and Ogunlewe, over alleged corruption and abuse of office.

The meeting was said to have been attended by all members of the council, except the representative of the Federal Ministry of Education.

It would be recalled that the duo of Oyewole and Ogunlewe were quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for questioning on the allegations leveled against them.

The institution authorities had placed the trio of Somoye, Salaam and Bankole on indefinite suspension since August 22, before their appointment were finally terminated on Thursday.

Others affected were 10 executive members of the association under the chairmanship of Comrade Rotimi Fasunwon and five staff members of the bursary department.

Also, Tribune Online had it that five medical staff of the university were also relieved of their appointments.

Those sacked include three medical doctors, Dr Ajayi A.O, Dr Olaniran I.O and Dr Salami O.O and two health workers were Mr Oyero, a lab scientist and Miss. K.O Adeyemi, a medical record officer.

When contacted, Head, Directorate of Public Relations, FUNNAB, Mrs Emi Alawode, confirmed that there was a meeting of the Council on Thursday, while details of the meeting were not disclosed.

Also, speaking with Tribune Online, SSANU chairman, FUNAAB Comrade Fasunwon, said the sack of 18 members of the association by the Council was “nothing but the truth.”

He also confirmed that the three doctors and two health workers had received their letters last Tuesday, and that the association had approached the court over the sack of the medical personnel through its counsel on the development.

Fasunwon added that the sack of the 18 members on Thursday was not unexpected, saying: ” We expected this development long before now and that is why we are not moved. We are getting to the peak of this matter.”