The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the Kogi State Government to reinstate 120 academic staff members of Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba, who were dismissed in 2017 during the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Comrade Onyibo Eze, Chairman of the ASUU chapter at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), called on the current Governor, Ahmed Ododo, to correct the injustice by reinstating the affected staff. Eze emphasized that the termination occurred because the lecturers participated in a strike demanding better welfare, salary arrears, and academic allowances. The strike also called for improved funding of the university, autonomy, and the protection of academic freedom.
Eze pointed out that the UNN chapter of ASUU, as part of the Nsukka zone, shares in the plight of the KSU staff, stating, “Whatever affects KSU-ASUU affects all of us in the Nsukka ASUU zone.”
He recalled that the strike was initiated after multiple efforts to negotiate with the Kogi State Government were ignored by Governor Bello. Instead of engaging in talks, Bello’s administration responded by proscribing ASUU-KSU and terminating the employment of 120 academic staff, which later became a subject of litigation.
During hearings at the Industrial Court of Nigeria, both the Kogi State Government and KSU management presented no specific allegations against the sacked lecturers, apart from citing their participation in the strike, which Eze argues is insufficient grounds for dismissal.
The union leader expressed sorrow over the deaths of four senior members of the affected staff, who passed away due to hardship and psychological trauma caused by the sack. “It is unfortunate that these ASUU members died in the struggle to demand their rights and improve the welfare of their colleagues,” Eze lamented.
Eze also highlighted that Governor Bello had set up a Visitation Panel that recommended the immediate reinstatement of the sacked staff. However, the former governor failed to implement the panel’s recommendations before leaving office.
The UNN-ASUU chairman appealed to Governor Ododo to honor the Visitation Panel’s recommendations, stating, “Reinstating the lecturers will heal the wounds of seven years and rectify the injustice done to these innocent educators, bringing relief to their families.”
ASUU hopes that Governor Ododo will take swift action to address this long-standing issue, restoring not only the affected staff but also trust in the state’s commitment to fair and just treatment of its academic workforce.
