From Magnus Eze, Abuja
The Registrar of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), Mrs. Rifkatu Hoshen Swanta, and 21 others have been suspended indefinitely for alleged anti-union activities by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
This came as the union held a rally at the university to protest alleged corrupt practices by some members of the management and the sacking of two of its members by the Governing Council for whistleblowing.
In a letter titled “Suspension of some SSANU members in University of Abuja,” dated April 12, 2017, and addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the university, the union accused the suspended members of holding an illegal congress and asked the university management to henceforth stop any remittance of check-off dues of the affected members to the union.
The letter, signed by SSANU Deputy National President, Mr. Moses Aogo, said the decision was taken by the National Administrative Council at its meeting on April 11, 2017, after a thorough consideration of the report of anti-union activities brought against them.
The union further urged the university management to ensure that “all the illegal actions taken by the suspended members such as locking of the SSANU secretariat, forging of the union’s letterhead paper to open bank accounts, etc.,” were reversed with immediate effect.
It said: “In the interest of industrial peace, management should also ensure the security of all lives and property of SSANU members on the campus.”