Ridwan Kolawole, Ibadan
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has hailed a judgement of the National Industrial Court, Akure which nullified the sacking of two ASUU executives by the University of Ilorin.
The Ibadan Zone of ASUU made a statement today following the judgement reinstating the two Unilorin lecturers who were sacked by the university authorities over a year ago.
The Ibadan Zone of ASUU made a statement today following the judgement reinstating the two Unilorin lecturers who were sacked by the university authorities over a year ago.
ASUU Chairman, Dr Kayode Afolayan and Secretary Solomon Oyelekan were illegally sacked by the authorities at the University of Ilorin on September 19, 2017.
After a year legal tussle, the court presided over by Justice Abiola Adewemimo flawed University of Ilorin for terminating the appointment of the ASUU executives without following due process and the rules of the Institution.
Justuce Adewemimo also berated University of Ilorin for violating the rights of the illegally-sacked lecturers to fair hearing declaring the action of the university as oppressive, dictatorial, tyrannical and a miscarriage of justice.
The judge ordered immediate reinstatement of the sacked lecturers and the payment of their entitlements to date and other benefits which they are entitled to.
In their reactions, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Dr Ade Adejumo and Chairman of the University of Ibadan Branch of the union, Dr Deji Omole described the ruling as a victory against tyranny and terrorism by the university of Ilorin administration.
They said, “The judge ordered that the duo of Afolayan and Solomon Oyelekan be reinstated with full benefits and they must not suffer any monetary loss/promotion and seniority as a consequence of the purported dismissal. They must be paid the balance of their half salaries during suspension and full salaries, all allowances and other benefits from the day of purported dismissal till date. Dr Afolayan and Oyelekan were also awarded a sum of five hundred thousand naira each by the court for aggravated damages caused by the purported dismissal of by the University of Ilorin authority.
“The university shall pay interest of 20% on the judge sum until totally liquidated. The University of Ilorin administration was berated for recklessly violating its own laws and the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria on the ASUU leaders fundamental human rights to fare hearing. The court therefore awarded a cost of one hundred thousand naira on unilorin administration as legal costs”
According to the Duo, ASUU as a law abiding union opted for the law-courts instead of taking laws into their hands.
The ASUU leaders noted that by sacking the lecturers unjustly, the University has inflicted emotional and psychological trauma on their members but thanked the court for upholding the truth and nipping the tyrannical decisions at UNILORIN in the bud.
