UNN Crisis: Staffs Vow Not To Resume Over Enejere’s Removal

All categories of staff including lecturers, professors, senior and junior non-academic staff of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, have resolved not to re-open the institution, despite the resolution of the six-month old crises between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, until the government recalled the former pro-chancellor of the university, Dr Emeka Enejere.

Enejere was said to have been sacked by the Federal Government for allegedly being ‘’a friend’’ of the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, and replaced with counsel to the six lawmakers opposed to Amaechi, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, SAN.

Enejere sacked over Amaechi
Hints that Enejere was sacked for purportedly being close to Amaechi was given by Professor Okolo when some leaders of Nsukka zone visited his office over the crises in the university, weekend.
Apart from being counsel for the anti-Amaechi legislators, the Supervisory Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Nwike, also reportedly practised from Ukala’s law chambers after graduation from school.

The governing council, headed by Enejere, had been embroiled in crises with the vice chancellor of the UNN, Prof Bartho Okolo, over alleged misapplication of about N3 billion when Enejere was fired.

Issues raised
Among the issues raised by the council included the appointment of two female ad-hoc staff on yearly salaries of N28,051, 200 and N6 million respectively, without recourse to employment procedures.
Mrs. Christiana Oriola was emloyed as ICT Director on a monthly salary of N2,337,600 while Miss Chioma Onyenwe was receiving N500,000 monthly as the Alumni Co-ordinator.

Enejere was on his way to the council meeting where Okolo was to be suspended from duty following his alleged indictment by a committee set up by the council to probe some of the multi-million Naira contracts he allegedly awarded without due process, when he was informed of his removal on the telephone, an action which has led to daily ‘’mass prayers’’ or demonstrations by both academic and non-academic staff of the two campuses of the university since then.

However, Vanguard sources hinted that the decision not to re-open the university until the Federal Government recalled Enejere who was seen as an anti-corruption crusader in the university was reached at a meeting attended by leaders of the three major unions including ASUU, the Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU under the umbrella of Joint Action Committee, JAC, of Trade Unions in the university.

A lecturer who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: ‘’ We resolved that nothing will make us go back to either the classrooms or offices until the Federal Government rescinds its decision on Enejere.

Misleading Jonathan
“The Supervisory Minister of Education, Wike misled Jonathan during the ASUU strike making it last for six months and he has again started another problem at UNN. Is governance all about causing tension and blackmailing people?
‘’We are not all fools. We will not allow Ukala because he is on a wrong mission.’’

JAC had in an earlier statement said that normalcy would not return to the university until the council chairman, Dr. Enejere, was reinstated.
Both Enejere and Okolo did not reply the text messages sent to them for their comments on the issue.

Source: Vanguard Newspaper