The University of Jos Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has strongly criticized the ongoing victimization of its members across several public universities in Nigeria. Jurbe Molwus, the Chairperson of the union at the University of Jos, raised these concerns during a news conference held on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, in Jos.
Molwus revealed that lecturers from various institutions, including Lagos State University (LASU), Kogi State University (KSU), Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), are facing unjust treatment. He stated that some members had their appointments terminated or suspended illegally, while others had been denied promotions or had their salaries withheld.
“At LASU, our union has faced ongoing conflict, leading to the mistreatment of our leaders,” Molwus said. He also criticized Kogi State University for its decline, even though ASUU members have not been accused of any wrongdoing, and blamed the state government for hindering the university’s development.
Molwus expressed concern over FUTO, where he claimed that the Vice Chancellor and her associates were punishing union members for opposing the controversial appointment of Isa Pantami to a professorship. He also highlighted issues at COOU, where the union’s secretariat has been locked, meetings are banned, and members’ salaries have been withheld for over a year due to their resistance to violations of academic standards.
He linked the ongoing mistreatment of ASUU members to the growing brain drain in Nigerian universities. He also urged the judiciary to speed up the process of resolving legal issues involving the union to address the situation more effectively.
