Jonathan's action violated rule of law — ASUU

The University of Ibadan (UI) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has condemned the sack of university council chairmen in Nigerian Public universities by President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a recent statement published by chapter Chairman, Prof Segun Ajiboye, the union said the Jonathan-led Federal government failed to honour the rule of law as is expected in the removal of the chairmen and the Chairman of Council, Rtd. General Adeyinka Adebayo.

"The FGN’s pronouncement on this has, indeed, violated those lofty universal objectives and government’s own agreement to honour the rule of law..." he said.

Ajiboye argued that the only legal ground for the removal of the chairmen before their 4-year tenure ends is proven maladministration, physical impairment or recorded case of loss of life, all of which the Federal Government failed to established before taking the action.

“The Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 1993 as amended by the Universities(Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003, 2007, Act No 1 Section 2A clearly states the tenure of Council thus: The Council so constituted shall have a tenure of four years from the date of its inauguration, provided that where a Council is found to be incompetent and corrupt, it shall be dissolved by the Visitor and a new Council shall be immediately constituted for the effective functioning of the University,” Ajiboye said.

The union boss said universities' Autonomy and Academic freedom is important if they must achieve their purposes.

“The principle of such statutes were enshrined universally in realisation of the need to absolve the University of the Distraction of partisanship, and empower the system with the ability to venture in quest of developing both the human and natural environment through ground-breaking research."

The union then called on Jonathan to rescind its decision so as not to be seen as deliberately breaking the law.