The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has labeled the University of Ilorin, a terrorist organization following the contract termination of the Dr. Kayode Afolayan, ASUU chairman of the school.
Dr. Afolayan was reported to have been sacked for allegedly exposing corrupt practices of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali.
In a letter signed on behalf of the union by ASUU chairman, University of Ibadan chapter and Ibadan Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Ade Adejumo, said that Unilorin under Ambali devised several means to suppress legitimate activities in order to avoid his exposure.
The letter partly read;
“Indeed, the university prides itself in its ability to kill off (members of) staff and students that are connected to ASUU leadership in any way.
This hate crime on the part of the university is usually carried out under the guise of uninterrupted academic calendar.
Yet, many other universities have also maintained a stable academic calendar without destroying union members or their careers.
To all intents and purposes, Unilorin has become a terrorist organisation as far as industrial relation is concerned.”
“Prof Ambali took all these to an unprecedented height when in 2015, he smuggled his wife, Dr. Taiwo Ambali, into the university through the temporary appointment route as Lecturer 1. By 2016, less than one year later, she had been promoted to the rank of Senior Lecturer, when the regulation specifies at least three years before such a promotion could take place.”
“Our Unilorin branch chairman, Dr. Afolayan, on behalf of the union, signed a letter addressed to the school governing council to look into the infringement against the university Rules and Regulations committed by Prof. Ambali.
However, rather than retrace his steps, the outgoing vice-chancellor issued a query to Afolayan alleging that they circulated an unspecified leaflet against the vice-chancellor.”
“On September 21, 2017, the university administration completed another cycle of impunity, lawlessness and disregard for due process with the termination of appointment of Afolayan.”
ASUU further claimed that despite its petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission and other anti-corruption agencies, the reports of their investigations were never made public.
The letter further read;
“Equally worrisome is the seeming connivance of relevant authorities with Unilorin in its dastardly pursuit. For example, our union, since December 2016, had submitted petitions to the EFCC, ICPC and the CCB but until now results of ongoing investigations have not been made known to the public.