The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Owerri Zone has expressed disappointment over ongoing leadership crisis at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Imo State.
The body, made up of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State University, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, accused the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nnenna Oti of fueling the tension following her purported resignation of her ASUU membership, which gave rise to suspension of all the former executives” of ASUU FUTO, “replacing” them with new ones in acting capacity.
Addressing reporters in Awka, Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Dennis Aribodor maintained that the legitimate leadership of ASUU FUTO remained the Executive Committee led by Comrade Chinedu Ihejirika, stressing that any other group that claim leadership of the Union at FUTO is but a group of impostors.
According to him, the Engr. C.C. Onwuachu and his cohorts are not known to the leadership of ASUU Owerri Zone and the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union.
He urged the Vice Chancellor to retrace her steps, halt the harassment and threat to the Comrade Chinedu Ihejirika led Executive of ASUU FUTO for standing on the path of truth.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Owerri Zone made up of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State University, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture and Nnamdi Azikiwe University,
“Our attention has been drawn to the consistent and concerted efforts of the Administration of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) to ridicule the leadership of ASUU FUTO and cause disaffection within the ASUU-FUTO Branch of the Union.
“On the 22nd of June 2023, the Vice Chancellor of FUTO, Professor Nnenna N. Oti, purportedly resigned her membership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities using the official letter headed paper of the office of the Vice Chancellor. Professor Nnenna N. Oti ought to have known that labour laws do not permit an employer to belong to a union of employees.
“Consequently, as Vice Chancellor of FUTO, she is not a member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities. If she desires to resign her membership of the Union, she should resign in her individual capacity following the extant provisions of the Constitution of the Academic Staff Union of Universities as stipulated in Article 3 Section (vii).
“Sequel to the purported resignation, the unfortunate events began to unfold on the 3rd of July 2023 with a purported congress meeting in which a group of ASUU FUTO members, acting out an already prepared script purportedly “suspended all the former executives” of ASUU FUTO and “replaced” them with new ones in acting capacity.
“This was immediately followed by the sealing of the ASUU FUTO Secretariat by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the University. The ASUU Owerri Zone hopes that these misguided members understand that the former Executive Committee of ASUU FUTO is the one that was led by Dr. Christopher Echereobia, who is alleged to be the brain behind the efforts to decimate the Union in FUTO.
“Again, on the 4th of July 2023, one Engr. C.C. Onwuachu, the Acting Secretary of the misguided members, wrote to the Secretary of ASUU FUTO demanding a handover of all ASUU property to him.
“Gentlemen of the Press, as we speak, the Secretariat of ASUU FUTO is still under lock and key in spite of the appeals made to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Nnenna N. Oti, by the leadership of ASUU Owerri Zone and a group of Professors in FUTO.
“The leadership of ASUU Owerri Zone hereby informs the general Public that the legitimate leadership of ASUU FUTO is the Executive Committee led by Comrade Chinedu Ihejirika. Any other group that claims leadership of the Union at FUTO is but a group of impostors. The Engr. C.C. Onwuachu and his cohorts are not known to the leadership of ASUU Owerri Zone and the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union.
“The onslaught on the leadership and members of our Union at FUTO has continued unabated. On the 13th of July, 2023, a letter from the Registrar of the University, Chiedozie Uba, directed all “Chairmen and Executive Committee members” of Staff Unions in the University to obtain “approval before embarking on any trip outside the University”.
“This directive, targeted at the leadership of the Staff Unions, is discriminatory and obnoxious. It is discriminatory in the sense that any staff of FUTO other than the Chairmen and Executive members of the Staff Unions is at liberty to embark on any trip outside the University without approval. Where then is the sense of justice, equity, fair play and good conscience on the part of the Administration of FUTO.
“Gentlemen of the Press, the Federal University of Technology Owerri, located over 20 km from the city of Owerri has no staff quarters within the University premises. What then is the rationale behind the directive that a Chairman or an executive member of a Staff Union returning to his residence in Owerri (a trip outside the University) should seek for approval to return home.
“ASUU Owerri Zone also hopes that the FUTO Administration understands that the staff of FUTO are accountable to the University only between the hours of 8 am – 4 pm on working days only. That blanket directive can only come from minds that are obviously warped.
“The second letter from the Vice Chancellor, Professor Nnenna N. Oti, gave all Staff Unions two (2) weeks from the date of the letter (13th July2023) to submit the duly signed membership forms of members authorizing deduction of check off dues and any other monies from their salaries. This is in violation of the extant provisions of the Trade Union Act and the Constitution of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in an attempt to stifle the Staff Unions in FUTO.
“Gentlemen of the Press, in the light of the foregoing, the pertinent question to ask is what then is the bone of contention and what is the part of the FUTO Administration in it. And here comes again the corrupt and fraudulent professorial appointment of Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami while serving as a Minister of the Federation by the Administration of FUTO.
“In the Daily Sun of Monday, September 21 2020, the authorities of the Federal University of Technology Owerri advertised for staff vacancies. For the position of Professor, (Qualification and Experience), the advert stipulated a Doctorate Degree in the relevant field plus a minimum of twelve (12) years post qualification experience in teaching and research in a University.
“Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami did not have the twelve (12) years post qualification experience having obtained his Doctorate Degree in March 2014. This deficit in a sane clime implies that Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami should not have made the shortlist of qualified candidates. His application should have been discarded at this point. This was not to be.
“The authorities in FUTO (the “miracle workers”) began the scheming that saw him enlisted as one of the seven Readers (Associate Professors) promoted to the rank of Professor. After the purported promotion, he was issued an appointment letter. Eye Brows were raised while tongues wangled.
“ASUU NEC directed ASUU FUTO to inquire into the matter. ASUU FUTO congress concluded that the appointment followed due process and without reporting to ASUU NEC went public with the conclusion. There were protests by those who knew the career progression of Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami. The then Chairperson of ASUU FUTO, Dr. Christopher Echereobia, in a subsequent meeting of ASUU National Executive Council (ASUU NEC) held at the University of Abuja, confessed at the floor of NEC, that the appointment did not follow due process.
“Consequently, ASUU NEC decided to carry out its own investigation which revealed that the appointment did not follow due process. Consequently, ASUU NEC overruled ASUU FUTO congress. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Nnenna N. Oti, who made the appointment was irked and has been consistently trying to intimidate the current leadership of ASUU FUTO to repudiate the position of ASUU NEC.
“Gentlemen of the Press, the forgoing is the unfortunate rationale for the onslaught on the leadership of ASUU FUTO. The Vice Chancellor of FUTO, Prof. Nnenna Oti, should be told that the honourable thing to do in the light of the revelations of her corrupt practice is not to resign from ASUU but to resign from her office as Vice Chancellor.
“ASUU NEC cannot reverse its position on the appointment of Pantami given the facts before it; and the leadership of ASUU FUTO does not have the locus or powers to reverse the resolution of ASUU NEC on this or any other matter. The administration of FUTO can continue to play the ostrich on this matter to the detriment of the University.
“The ASUU Owerri Zone hereby urges the Vice Chancellor to retrace her steps, halt the harassment and threat to the Comrade Chinedu Ihejirika led Executive of ASUU FUTO for standing on the path of truth. The university is where we seek the truth, find the truth, teach the truth, defend the truth and preserve the truth no matter whose ox is gored.”
