From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
A group of over 50 members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), led by figures like J.T. Aborisade and Wale Owasanoye, has distanced itself from a proposed industrial action by the university’s SSANU chapter and the SSANU Western Zone.
The threatened strike, involving 26 universities, follows a recent FUOYE Governing Council report clearing Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sunday Fasina of sexual harassment allegations.
The council, chaired by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, not only exonerated Fasina but also lifted suspensions on Mr Benjamin Faleye and Mrs Ayomikun Aluko, directing them to issue formal apologies for actions that harmed the university’s reputation. Dr Abdussobur Olayiwola Salaam, SSANU Western Zone Vice-President, rejected the verdict, alleging inadequate disciplinary measures and threatening disruptive action alongside Faleye’s faction.
The FUOYE SSANU faction, in a statement to journalists, condemned the Western Zone’s stance and reaffirmed support for the council’s decision.
“History is repeating itself today, as we are compelled to publicly make our stand known on the position of our revered Governing Council led by distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba,” the statement read. “
We are categorically stating that we are fully in support of the position of the Governing Council over the lingering sexual harassment allegation against our dear Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Fasina.”
The group praised the council’s leniency, noting, “In our estimation, the Council has been magnanimous enough to have lifted the suspension on Mr Benjamin Faleye and Mrs Ayomikun Aluko, in spite of the gross misconduct they committed which brought the name of the University into disrepute. We are also humbled by the magnanimity of the Council in merely directing Mrs Adebayo, who is at the centre of the injustice done to our great University, to apologise. In other climes, she would have been given stricter sanctions.”
Warning against external interference, they stated, “Given this scenario, we therefore warn any external elements to steer clear of this issue. We are for peace in our university, and we will not allow any external force to come and disrupt the peace we currently enjoy.”
The faction urged security agencies and stakeholders, including the Federal Government, ICPC, NAPTIP, and the Nigeria Labour Congress, to resist the Western Zone’s plans, saying, “We finally call on the Federal Government… to ignore the ranting by the Western SSANU Zone on disrupting the peace in our university and prevail on them to allow peace to reign.”