Academic Union of Universities, ASUU, has declared September 10, 2024, as Victimized Lecturers’ Day, a day set aside to alert the world about unending managerial crises and the travails of lecturers in public Universities in Nigeria.
The National President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke disclosed this on Wednesday at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, while briefing Journalists about the outcome of the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of ASUU held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Osodeke, who was flanked by ASUU members during the press briefing, said several lecturers in different Nigerian Universities have either had their appointments terminated, salaries withheld or their promotions denied by the management of such institutions for trying to protect the welfare of academic staff.
These Universities according to the Osodeke, are Kogi State University, Ebonyi State University, EBSU, Lagos State University, LASU, Ambrose Alli University, Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam among others.
ASUU while expressing displeasure that its members are still being victimized in Federal University of Technology, FUTO, Owerri for rejecting the conferment of Professorship title on former Minister of Communication and Digital Technology, Isah Pantami, demanded an end to such rough treatment by FUTO management.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities restated its call on the Federal government to review and sign the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, payment of outstanding earned academic allowances, release of withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and end to third-party deductions of ASUU members’ funds.
Other issues demanded by the lecturers include the stoppage of illegal retirements, the proliferation of Public Universities, and the abuse of Universities’ laws.