The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) says the crisis rocking the varsity would persist if its governing council is not constituted.
According to The Nation, Austen Sado, the ASUU chairman in UNIPORT, gave the warning during a meeting of the union on Tuesday.
He also stated that running the institution without a governing council was a violation of the University Autonomy Act.
Sado said they were disappointed that the federal government inaugurated the governing councils of 13 varsities but left out that of UNIPORT. He also alleged neglect by the federal government.
“We rely on the University Autonomy Act, which stipulates, once a governing council is dissolved, another shall almost immediately be constituted as if the council wasn’t dissolved,” Sado said.
“We’re disappointed that the government inaugurated governing councils of 13 universities but completely left out the constitution of a governing council for the University of Port Harcourt.
“To allow the vacuum created by the dissolution of the governing council to subsist is tacit approval of the rapacious acts of officers of the university system.
“If the government truly intends to solve the myriads of problems in UNIPORT and put the university on the pedestal of excellence, the governing council is an indispensable part of that.”
Sado also described the ongoing recruitment in the university as being contrary to all known procedures and conditions for the appointment and promotion of staff in the university system.
“Political godfatherism can’t be a basis for employment in the university. Qualified candidates must be given equal opportunity in the selection,” he said, alleging a hijack of the recruitment exercise.
“The union should not be held responsible for any breach of industrial harmony in the university if the charade is allowed to stand.”
UNIPORT’s governing council was dissolved in May following a directive from the ministry of education.
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