The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University Chapter has described the purported sack of 18 staff of the institution by the management for participating in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warning strike in the state as illegal.
According to the union, the sack was announced by the Vice Chancellor during the 16th Congregation of the Kaduna State University held on Wednesday, 2nd June 2021.
The union said the evidence of the purported action by the university is also contained in a memo (KASU/REG/061/VOL 1/446) from the University Management to the Governor through the Commissioner for Education dated 20th May 2021.
ASUU in a statement issued on Monday signed by the KASU Chapter Chairman, Comrade Peter Adamu and the Acting Secretary, Silas Akos said the 18 affected members of staff neither received queries nor faced any disciplinary committee as claimed by the university management.
The union added that the purported sack letter also mandated the office of the Accountant General of Kaduna State to stop remitting the check-off dues of the union, which is against the Trade Unions (Amendment) Act N0. 17 of 2005, that clearly explains check-off dues to be statutorily permitted deductions.
The union said the Trade Unions Act recognises check-off dues as compulsory and automatic for members and does not rely on the pleasure of an employer.
The union condemned the action and called on the management of the university to rescind her decision on the purported sack of the 18 staff and stoppage of ASUU KASU check off dues.
It could be recalled that Daily Trust reported the row between the union and the management over the plan to sack the staff but when contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Adamu Bargo in a WhatsApp message simply described the news as fake.
Meanwhile, the management of Kaduna State University on Monday debunked the news going round that the University has been shut down due to student’s protests over tuition fees increment.
The University Public Relations Officer, Adamu Nuhu Bargo in a statement issued said the management didn’t shut down the school.
Our reporter who visited the school in the afternoon observed that the premises was deserted with only few staff sighted in their offices.
