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ASUU, SSANU demand return of sacked VC

From Kabiru R. Anwar, Yola

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Senior Staff of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) at the Adamawa State University (ADSU) Mubi have called on Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla to reinstate the sacked Vice Chancellor, Professor David Shall.

Shall was removed recently through a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Bindir, which said the action was sequel to the recommendation of a visitation committee that investigated allegations of maladministration against him.

Addressing journalists in Yola yesterday, the ASUU chapter chairman, Abubakar Aliyu Song, said the governor was misled by individuals into taking the decision without recourse to due process.

According to him, Shall was committed to transparency and accountability in handling the affairs of the institution until some selfish individuals misinformed the government through baseless petitions leading to his controversial removal.

He lamented the failure of the state government to reconstitute the university’s Governing Council to oversee the affairs of the institution despite repeated calls from ASUU, saying with council in place, the matter could have been resolved with competence.

He refuted claims by government that a visitation committee had recommended Shall’s removal, saying there was no evidence to substantiate the claim.

“The union wishes to confirm to the public that that there was no visitation committee as claimed that visited the university as the university has never received any form of circular to that effect, notifying of the constitution of the committee, inviting memoranda from various unions and individuals in the university community. This is contrary to the operations of visitation committees and consequently made the report questionable.

“The union therefore advises the Visitor on the need to reconstitute the Governing Council immediately, revisit and reverse the decision for the progress and development of the university”, he said.

In his remarks, SSANU chairman, James Fwaa, said Professor Shall had attracted enemies when he tried to block financial leakages and ensure accountability in the system.

He accused the government of violating the autonomy of the university, saying the development, if not reversed, would encourage corruption and set a bad precedence in the university.

Smugglers’ aides should be killed-Ali

From Yusha’u A. Ibrahim, Kano

The Comptroller General, Nigerian Customs Service, retired Col. Hameed Ali, yesterday warned customs personnel against violating laws governing the service, saying it is treasonable.

Ali was speaking in Kano during a familiarization tour of customs formations.

“To me, any officer found allowing smugglers to have a field day should be killed, but the law stipulates a maximum of 10 years jail term”, he said.

He charged customs personnel to sit up in the discharge of their duties as the service will never condone unprofessionalism.

On promotion, he said according to the customs Act, an officer is not expected to stay more than three years in a location.

NPA committed to industrial harmony-MD

From Eugene Agha, Lagos

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi, has reiterated the authority’s commitment to the maintenance of industrial harmony in the nation’s seaports.

Abdullahi, who was represented by the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Engineer David Omonibeke, dropped the hint yesterday at a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos.

He said the NPA would continue to engage all stakeholders and ensure that all rules of engagement were followed.

He noted that the NPA as a law abiding organisation, appreciates the roles of tally clerks and on-board security men at the ports and had convened the meeting so that all conflicts in the sector could be properly explained.

Earlier, the chairman of the forum, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport who was represented by the Director, Maritime Services, Alhaji Isa Galadanchi, called on all stakeholders to express their views on the way forward in the Maritime sector, stressing that there was need to agree on who pays for the services of tally clerks and on-board security men.

Stakeholders who made presentations during the meeting included the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Seaport Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN), Shipping Companies and National Association of Stevedoring Companies, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC).

Police free 83 MASSOB members, nab 2 over gun running

From Chris Eze, Yenagoa

Police in Bayelsa State have set free 83 members of the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) who were arrested during a recent demonstration.

Spokesman of the command, ASP Asinim Butswat, said the agitators were arrested for causing public disorder but released after thorough interrogation.

He said they were made up of five women and 78 men, adding that they were caught with flags, banners and T-Shirts with Biafra inscriptions.

In another development, the police spokesman said police authorities in the state had arrested two persons for gun running.

He said they were arrested in a room along Tamic Road Okutukutu, Yenagoa yesterday at about 6.30am.

Butswat said a team of detectives stormed the residence and recovered an AR rifle with 20 rounds of live ammunition and a locally made pistol. The names of the occupants of the house were given as Sunday Akpan and Emmanuel Monday.

The spokesman said the suspects had made useful statements, adding that Investigation into the crime was in progress.