Kogi Varsity Sets Up Task Force to Evacuate 150 Sacked Lecturers *Recall them now, elders demand

The Kogi State University Anyigba has set up an eight-member task force to evacuate all the 150  disengaged lecturers from their offices and staff quarters.

 However,  Kogi East Elders (KEE) has tackled the state governor, demanding the immediate recall of  the 150 university lecturers and payment of workers salaries in the state. 

Over 100 lecturers of the institution were sacked by the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, after a prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Kogi State University chapter.  

The state government, after proscribing ASUU in the institution, insisted that the striking lecturers should go back to work or consider themselves out of the state work force.

 According to a letter issued by the registrar of the institution Y.I Abubakar, the taskforce will be chaired by Dr Sanni Mamah.

 Other members of the taskforce are, Dr S O Usman ( Vice Chairman), Major M.J Adama, Dr Akoji Ocheja, Dr Ameh Omede, Dr O.C Aliyu, Dr Alla Mathew, and Mr Victor Atoku (Secretary).  They are expected to complete their assignment within one week. 

 However, Kogi East Elders (KEE), has tackled the governor, demanding immediate recall of 150 university lecturers and payment of workers salaries in the state. 

 In a communique issued at the end of a recent meeting of the Council, which copy was made available to journalists in Lokoja on Sunday,  the elders said the action of the state government is inimical to progress and orderly development of the institution.

  The communique was signed by KEEC Chairman, Senator Ahmadu Ali; the Deputy Chairman, Arc. Gabriel Aduku and Mr. Alphonsus Alhassan, the General Secretary.  

The council expressed concern over the lingering crises between ASUU Kogi State University chapter and the government of the state.

The council therefore requested that government immediately review the action by granting an unconditional pardon to the affected staff in order to create a conducive environment for teaching, learning and research.

  “Council is of the opinion that the proscription of ASUU-KSU chapter was irrational because it would not solve the crises rather it would aggravate it,” they said.  

KEEC expressed  fear that the institution risk losing accreditation of many of its current academic programmes as well as its enviable position as number one among state universities and number seven overall during the 2011 institutional accreditation  by the National Universities Commission (NCC).  

The communique also called for speedy conclusion of the screening exercise that was adjudged the longest in history of Nigeria.  It frowned at the situation whereby civil servants are owed salaries of 12 months and more inspire of the bailout funds and Paris club refund received by the state government. 

“The Kogi East elders council is dissatisfied with the current state of security plaguing the state as political thuggery appear to be on the rise tacitly and implicitly orchestrated by the style of administration. 

“The KEEC call on the federal and state government to look into the current indefinite strike action embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress, Kogi State chapter,”  the group said.

The council called on the APC-led federal government to prevail on governor Bello to tow the path of industrial peace and and harmony for good governance in Kogi State.  In its reaction through the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Edward Onoja, government said the industrial crises that engulfed Kogi State University (KSU) Anyigba saw ASUU members refuse to teach for seven months while government remained obligate to pay, salaries  and did pay for the duration.