FUTA recalls suspended workers

The authorities of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) on Tuesday, recalled the 23 labour union leaders of the institution suspended for allegedly disrupting the peace of the university campus.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the Head of Information Unit of the varsity, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, who called on the labour leaders to start work immediately, disclosing that the school authorities had set up a committee to look into the crisis between the labour unions and the Vice-Chancellor of the school, Professor Adebiyi Daramola.

The copies of the letter recalling the union leaders was said to have been sent to the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission; Director, Tertiary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, and the national presidents of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU).

The letter which was signed by the Registrar of the institution, Mrs. Modupe Ajayi, read in part, “FUTA has formally carried out the decision of the Governing Council ordering the lifting of the suspension of 23 staff including three union leaders who were recently placed on indefinite suspension.

“The Council decided that the union leaders and other staff suspended should be recalled by the university management and those members of the union should resume work immediately.

“Accordingly, I write on behalf of the Governing Council to recall you and other members of the union who were suspended.”

The Council was said to have taken the decision to lift the suspension and order the payment of the October and November salaries to the affected workers as part of the efforts to find a lasting solution to the crisis in the institution.

The workers who were suspended last week include members of SSANU, NAAT and NASU

The three labour unions in the school have been calling for the sack of Daramola following an allegation of financial mismanagement levelled against him.

It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  invited the FUTA boss and the school bursar, but the duo were released on same day which ignited  protest by the union members who insisted that Daramola should step aside pending the investigation of the EFCC on the matter.