Following the conclusion of his term as vice chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah’s departure was commemorated by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) one day later.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has
expressed its intention to commemorate the departure of the vice chancellor,
who they allege has caused significant damage to the university during his
five-year tenure.
Speaking at the end of its congress on Tuesday, the Chairman
of UniAbuja ASUU branch, Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, said with Na’Allah’s exit, the
union was ready to engage with the new management of the University, led by
Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi to resolve the ongoing strike in the university.
“We are just celebrating the exit of the vice chancellor
that destroyed this university in the last five years. It is a case of
desecrating chambers of the Ivory towers.
“In the last five years, University of Abuja experienced
onslaught of academic activities. It was really a setback but the good news is
that the tenure has ended and so what we are celebrating is to tell the world
that we regret having him as the vice chancellor.
“Before he came to this university, university of Abuja was
in the ninth position but today university of Abuja is in the 27th position, it
was a total failure,” he said.
Recall that the union, on May 2, 2024, embarked on
indefinite strike in protest against issues such as violation of its
established laws, including appointments and promotions of members of staff in
the absence of a governing council, amongst others.
On the issue of strike, he said; “We didn’t strike because
of the vice Chancellor, the strike was led by the five issues that were
illegalities. So, as soon as these illegalities are corrected, we will suspend
the strike.
“The person overseeing the office of the vice Chancellor
Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi has been part of the player. She knows all the
issues so the union is waiting for any day we are invited to interface with the
University.
“The issues in contention are issues that could be handled
in one day for any person that is willing to solve them. So, I don’t think they
are issues that ordinarily could have lasted for more than two weeks.
“But right now, the strike is in and we are still on our
comprehensive, total and indefinite strike,” the ASUU chairman stated.
He further said another issue discussed in the congress was
to mobilise its people for a national strike, pending the directive of the
national.”
Former chairman of UniAbuja ASUU branch, Dr. Kassim Umar,who
also spoke, urged the Federal Government to intervene and save the University
of Abuja, while lamenting the policies of the past leadership.
“It is our prayer for even our enemy to not witness what we
have witnessed under Prof. Na’Allah because he is a kind of vice Chancellor
that knows it all and many times we have visited him, national had visited him,
zonal visitation, everybody have visited him and at the end of the day he
turned everything down. But it is our hope that the overseer of the University
who is Prof Maikudi will reason with the needful so that peace will return in
this place
“We are not fighting anybody. We want the system to be okay
for Nigerians and for our children but it is quit unfortunate we have
experienced this.
“We are calling all the relevant agencies from presidency,
Ministry of education, NUC, well wishes, traditional rulers and religious to
intervene and allow peace to reign in university of Abuja,” he added.
Responding to union’s declaration of celebration,the
university’s spokesman,Dr Habib Yakoob, said the entire university community
celebrated Prof.Na’Allah’ for his outstanding performance while he held sway in
the university.
“Well, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah was well celebrated
by the entire university community, at the tail end of his tenure. The
community felt they would miss an era that saw the rapid development of the
University in all facets of life.
“The acting vice chancellor of the University now,Professor
Aisha Sani Maikudi, was part of the administration of Na’Allah, being the
deputy vice chancellor academic.
“We hope that the ASUU will give her the support that the
University managment had been asking from them for quite some time now,”Yakoob
said.