Why FG must reinstate sacked FUNAAB staff – SERAP

    

Former Minister of Works and former Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe

  The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability (SERAP), an NGO, has urged the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, to reinstate the 23 senior university staff recently sacked by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, the Executive Director, SERAP, made the call in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

Mumuni noted that the sacked staff were members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU).

According to him, they were sacked for reporting cases of alleged corruption on campus to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He warned that the organisation would take legal action to fight the cause of the sacked staff, if the minister did not reinstate them on their jobs in the next seven days.

“Unless Mr Adamu is able to prevail on the university council to recall the victimised 23 staff members within seven days after the receipt and publication of this letter, our organisation will be compelled to pursue appropriate legal action to challenge these unjust acts against whistle-blowers.

“SERAP has been fully briefed by the 23 sacked SSANU members on their public interest disclosures on alleged corruption and unlawful enrichment of the Vice Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor.”

According to him, allegations of corruption, unlawful enrichment and misuse of power by university personnel for personal gain threatens and harms public interest.

The executive director expressed concern over the widespread nature of crimes in an “ivory tower” which is supposed to be the bedrock of learning and good culture.