Victimisation: FUNAAB Management And Its Shenanigans, By NASU-FUNAAB
The leadership of NASU-FUNAAB has received a press release of the University Management of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) dated October 23, 2022 signed by the University Registrar – Dr. ‘Bola Adekola with surprise. This is in-spite of the shameful and non-executive acts of University Management under the Vice-Chancellor – Prof. F.K. Salako.
✓ Undue interference in NASU affairs;
✓ Instigation of staff/members against the Union and its leadership;
✓ Victimization, stepping-down of promotion and denial of career progression of member;
✓ Arbitrary arrest and detention of NASU member;
✓ Suspension of four (4) members of NASU
Undue Interference In NASU Affairs:
It is an undisputable fact that goes beyond the act of manipulation in the usual character of FUNAAB Management that a competent Court of jurisdiction (National Industrial Court, Ibadan) under the Lordship of Justice J.D. Peters delivered a judgement on the above subject matter in favour of NASU on May 5, 2022 between NASU and Governing Council of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and Prof. Felix Salako (Vice-Chancellor), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and it was reaffirmed on July 5, 2022 in a suit No.: NICNIB/71/2021 and wherein the judge made it clear that the Vice-Chancellor – Prof. F.K. Salako should obey the following rulings:
▪ I hold that this Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine this case, accordingly, I refuse and dismiss the notice of preliminary objection filed.
▪ I declare that the purported query issued on behalf of the Defendants by the Deputy Registrar II (JSE) by name A.B. Ojoye to Onogwu James being an eligible member of the Applicant on an alleged undertaking not to take part in any Union action is a gross violation of their Fundamental Rights as provided for by Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and thereby null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
▪ Secondly, I declare that the imposition of an undertaking by the Defendant on the eligible members of the Claimants is a nullity and is a violation of Article 2 of the provisions of Section 12 (1) (4) and Section 16 of the Trade Unions Act 2004 (as amended).
▪ Thirdly, I declare that an undertaking restraining the eligible members of the Claimant from taking part in any Union action amount to meddling in the Internal affairs of the Claimant’s Union and such is contrary to International Best Practices in Labour, employment and industrial relation matters.
▪ I further declare that the setting up of a disciplinary Committee to enforce an undertaking not to take part in any Union action together with any disciplinary action(s) recommended is illegal, null and void.
▪ I nullify any purported undertaking for any of the eligible member of the Claimant not to take part in any Union action.
▪ I here set aside and order the 2nd Defendant to withdraw the query issued to Onogwu James and any other member of the Applicant on the ground of violation of undertaking not to take part in any Union action.
▪ I order immediate disbandment of the Investigation Committee set up to investigate the eligible members of the Claimant on the ground of an undertaking not to take part in any Union actions as contained in the query letter and set aside the findings of the disciplinary committee on the violation of undertaking not to take part in any Union action as contained in the query letter.
▪ The 2nd Defendant is here restrained from interfering or meddling with the internal affairs of the Applicant in whatsoever guise whether in term of membership of running its affairs.
▪ A perpetual injunction is here issued restraining the 1st Defendant or its servants, agents and privies from intimidating, threatening, or victimizing any of its worker(s) who participate or actually participated in trade Union activities with the Claimant’s Union.
▪ The Respondents are ordered to pay the cost of this action assessed at Two Hundred Thousand Naira only to the Applicant.
Besides, FUNAAB Management has to be reminded that Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300, 000.00) was awarded by the Court to be paid to the Union (NASU). It becomes disheartening that a citadel of learning like Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) can still come out justifying, forcing members of staff to opt out of NASU-FUNAAB.
Instigation of Staff/Members against the Union and Its Leadership:
More importantly, various instigating statement by the Vice-Chancellor at the various statutory meetings – blackmailing, denting and attacking image of NASU for having the gut to challenge its various illegalities and unconstitutional actions like coercing our members to sign undertaking not to join and opted out of NASU.
Immediately IPPIS was introduced having collected salaries from the Federal Government on their behalf for nothing less than two (2) to three (3) years but treating them as contract staff with token amount of Twenty-Seven Thousand Naira (N27, 000.00) monthly. As if that was not enough he quickly issued appointment letters for these categories of staff on November 4th and 5th 2019 and have those letters backdated to July 31st 2017. Evidence abounds on these illegalities of which the University Management opts out to show its shenanigan to NASU and its leadership.
Victimization, Stepping-down of Promotion and Denial of Career Progression of Member – Mr. I.O. Odunjo:
There is no doubt about the fact that Mr. I.O. Odunjo is a member and one of the best University Administrator that FUNAAB possesses; he is a Principal Assistant Registrar in the University with eight (8) year experience on the level with 2 different M.Sc. Degrees in Communication Studies and Public Administration.
Mr. Odunjo is also a member of various Professional Bodies like Association of Nigeria University Professional Administration (ANUPA), Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) and more importantly, London Academic for Higher Education Knowledge Exchange Club. He has been on this particular level for the past eight (8) years and had gone for promotional interview under the Chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor – Prof. F.K. Salako twice who at various times vowed that over his dead body would Mr. I.O. Odunjo move upward from the level in which he is as the Principal Assistant Registrar. He could not have been promoted by his sworn enemy, however brilliant and hardworking he is.
The only offence of Mr. Odunjo is having the gut to tell the Vice-Chancellor point blank in 2019 that the responsibility of the Vice-Chancellor did not include, NASU Chairmanship when he said the present Chairman and members of the Executives of the Branch must not be picked to lead the Branch (FUNAAB) by National Secretariat of the Union even after their appointment, the University Management still insisted that the set of members appointed as the Caretaker Committee of the Union should be changed through a letter signed by the same present University Registrar, Dr ‘Bola Adekola on April 1, 2019
It was since 2019 that Mr. I.O. Odunjo who is one of the National Executive Council (NEC) member of NASU, energetic, hardworking, honest, simple and easy going but firm staff now becomes a threat to the University Management under the leadership of Prof. F.K. Salako who at one time or the other at the early stage of the present administration described Mr. I.O. Odunjo as an asset to the University peace, progress and development before the University Community. Here is a University Administrator and Unionist who at one time or the other under its Chairmanship of the branch was highly commended along with NASU by the highest decision-making of the University, the Governing Council under the Chairmanship of Dr. Aboki Zhawa for responsible and responsive unionism in a letter by the immediate past Acting Registrar, Dr (Mrs) Nwuoka and also by the present Executive Secretary of the National University Commission – Prof. AbdulRasheed Abubakar. It is therefore disheartened, unethical, self-indicting and unprofessional for the present Registrar, Dr ‘Bola Adekola to result to Pull Him Down (PHD) of his surbordinate
Consequently, it is ironical for Mr. I.O. Odunjo that was offered various opportunities of elevation but rejected as a matter of principle is now subjected to victimization as a result of his courage, commitment and loyalty to the University and his Union.
Arbitrary Arrest and Detention of NASU Member – Mr. Folarin Olusegun O.:
Worst still, is the callous act of the Vice-Chancellor – Prof. F.K. Salako for ordering the arbitrary arrest and detention of one of the NASU members in person of Mr. Folarin Olusegun O. on the 12th March 2020, over his inability to put on the generator of the Vice-Chancellor’s lodge early enough due to non-availability and scarcity of diesel on campus over a week. Evidence abound which cannot be disputed to show the administrative and executive lawlessness, naivety, impunity and wickedness on the part of the University Management through a letter from the same Management dated March 16, 2020 and signed by the same University Registrar.
Above simply shows that the Vice-Chancellor has turned the University at one time or the other into a Military Zone himself as the garrison commander bullying, harrassing, victimizing and embarrassing especially NASU members without recourse to the University rules and regulations.
Suspension of Four (4) Members of NASU:
It is on record that FUNAAB Management under the present leadership threw away legality and spirit of adherence to the University rules and regulations it swore to uphold. This is an issue of all NASU members in compliance with directive of National JAC of NASU & SSANU but the Management felt insulted and wondered that why they should have down-tooled just because they are working in the Vice-Chancellor’s lodge and therefore were illegally suspended.
The whole case is like Vice-Chancellor being the accuser, prosecutor as well as the judge but still the Management denied the Union of all the necessary documents pertaining to the investigation panel set-up. The worst of it all, the Management refused to respond to various correspondences sent by the Union which led to the Union withdrawing from such kangaroo panel. Nevertheless, the Management went and misled the Governing Council which came up with multiple punishments which the Union rejected up till date.
It is a matter of fact that no responsible Union like NASU will fold its arms with all the above shenanigans, lawlessness and impunity FUNAAB Management sees its affair being interfered with by the Management trying to dictate who becomes who, how, when and it also sound uncivilized for any Management to jettison its rules and regulations and resort to area boys approach by getting its staff locked up and detained without recourse to the university due process on Staff discipline.
It is bitterly disheartening that any University Management can descend so low into blackmailing, attacking and character assassinating of its own staff just because it wants to hijack the administration of the staff Union.
In conclusion, the Management shenanigan attitudes and lies cannot deter NASU-FUNAAB members from embarking on a 7-day strike to press home its demands as directed by the Union National headquarters. In fact, the strike has already commenced and is in full force following it’s formal declaration in a well attended congress today October, 24 2022 in the university despite various kinds of intimidations from the management. The leadership and the entire members of NASU-FUNAAB branch commended the National headquarters for its pro-activeness to defend and save the downtrodden and workers from the hand of NASU oppressor, lawless Vice-Chancellor and FUNAAB garrison commander – Prof. F.K. Salako while reaffirming our loyalty and commitment to the National leadership led by the President – Dr. (Barr.) Makolo Hassan and our indefatigable National General Secretary – Com. Prince Peters Adeyemi.