Nigeria university workers demand reinstatement of sacked whistleblowers, others

Activities were paralysed for many hours at the Federal University of Technology, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, and its environs on Monday, following a protest by the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities over the recent sack of 23 of its members.

The dismissed officials were sacked on Thursday by the Governing Council of the institution.

The protesting workers who were joined by some executives of the union from the south-west , assembled at Isolu community, about a kilometre from the university, where they made their grievances known to journalists.

They made bonfires on the road as early as 7 a.m., sang solidarity songs and prevented vehicular movement along the Alabata Road which leads to the school.

The protest, according to the leadership of FUNAAB-SSANU was carried out to call for the establishment of a visitation panel to look into activities of the institution’s management in the last four years and the reinstatement of the 23 sacked workers.

The union’s National Vice-President, Western Zone, Alfred Jimoh, who addressed the gathering and journalists, called for an immediate and unconditional recall of their sacked colleagues.

He argued that the sacked colleagues were only asking for probity, accountability and transparency in the handling of the finances of the institution.

Mr. Jimoh berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly divulging the identities of three whistle blowers to the Vice-Chancellor, Olusola Oyewole

“If the Federal government is indeed sincere in its anti – corruption war, the searchlight should be beamed at FUNAAB,” he said.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the three whistleblowers were among the 23 sacked by the university.

The Head of Public Relations Directorate of the institution, Emi Alawode, said normal activities had resume in the school, as academic and non-academic staff were at their duty posts.

She added that meetings were ongoing to resolve the crisis.

“Everything is under control. Normal activities have resumed, as academic and non-academic workers are now at their duty posts. And this week is academic-free for students, lectures resume next week.”

It was reported how the decision to sack the affected workers was reached at a meeting chaired by the Chairman of the Council, Adeseye Ogunlewe, last Thursday.

Those sacked include the whistle blowers: Lasun Somoye, Abdusalaam Sobbor and E.A. Bankole.

Others relieved of their jobs include three medical doctors – Ajayi A.O., Olaniran I.O., and O.O. Salami, and two health workers.