THE Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Abul-Rasheed Na’Allah has vowed to ensure that any staff of the University caught in the web of sexual harassment will be punished according to the laws of the institution.
Na’Allah, however, confirmed that a panel investigating allegations of falsification of examination records and sexual harassment against a former Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Professor A. A. Adeniji, has submitted report and that the report is now with the disciplinary committee of the Universality.
He spoke at an interactive session with members of Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN), where he unveiled his vision to transform the University to a world-class institution befitting of the Nation’s capital city.
The authorities of the University of Abuja had set up an 8-man committee to investigate allegations of falsification of examination records and sexual harassment against the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Professor A. A. Adeniji, made by one Miss Duru Deborah, also a student of the Faculty of Agriculture.
The committee comprised three professors, three PhD holders (senior lecturers) representative of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) University of Abuja branch and a representative of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution.
While responding to questions from newsmen, the Vice-Chancellor who declared zero-tolerance to indiscipline and misconduct said the University would go to the root of the matter and that anyone found culpable would be punished according to provisions of the law.
He said: “The committee has submitted a report but there are stages in the investigation. The first stage has been covered and it is moved now to the disciplinary committee.
ALSO READ: Kwara customs generates N1.27b, seized goods worth N25.4m in 3 month
“The reason we have not addressed the press on this is that everybody has his strategy. In other places, they would address the whole press before investigation but we want to do a thorough job and with speed.
“We are trying our best. We want to make sure that people learn even though we are not concluding yet. But people should know that if you make a mistake, we will go after you even if you enter a cave, we will get you out.
“We will not accept any form of harassment. This University must be one University that is known for integrity-integrity of our staff, the integrity of our students and we are determined to make this happen.
“I’m very happy that everybody, staff, trade unions, students are united in this direction,” he said.
Na’Allah, who was appointed as the Vice-chancellor of the University about four months ago, pledged to change the face of the University and appealed to the media to support him in the efforts to transform the institution to an enviable standard.
He revealed that the Federal Government has approved funds for the immediate construction of two Faculties namely Faculties of Education and Environmental Studies at the main campus of the University.
While Faculty of Environmental Studies is a new introduction, the Faculty of Education would be moved from the temporary site in Gwagwalada to the permanent site along the Gwagwalada-Airport highway