ASUU Declares September 10 as 'Victimized Lecturers Day' to Highlight Ongoing Struggles in Public Universities

To raise awareness of the ongoing management issues and the struggles faced by professors at Nigeria's public universities, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has designated September 10, 2024, as Victimized Lecturers Day.

This was revealed by ASUU National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, on Wednesday at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, during a briefing for journalists regarding the outcomes of the organization's National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that took place in Ibadan, Oyo State.

During the press conference, Osodeke, who was accompanied by ASUU members, claimed that a number of lecturers at various universities in Nigeria have faced unjust treatment, such as job termination, withheld pay, or denied promotions, for attempting to safeguard the wellbeing of their faculty.

According to Osodeke, these universities include Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam; Kogi State University; Ebonyi State University (EBSU); Lagos State University (LASU); Ambrose Alli University; Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO); and others.

ASUU expressed dissatisfaction that its members continue to face discrimination at FUTO for refusing to grant former Minister of Communication and Digital Technology, Isah Pantami, the title of professor. They demanded an end to the harsh treatment that FUTO management has subjected its members to.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities reiterated its demands that the federal government review and sign the revised 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, pay earned academic allowances that are still owed, release withheld salaries and promotion arrears, and stop unauthorized deductions from ASUU members' accounts by third parties.

The lecturers also urged the government to address the abuse of university legislation, the proliferation of public universities, and the cessation of illegal retirements.