You erred with proscription of Kogi varsity union, ASUU tells Yahaya Bello

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says Kogi state government violated the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention by proscribing the union in Kogi State University.

Theophilus Lagi, zonal coordinator, ASUU Abuja zone, who made this statement in Abuja on Monday, said the state government also violated the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

The Abuja zone comprises the University of Abuja, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai and Federal University, Lafia.

Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi, had on July 19 announced the proscription shortly after the weekly executive council meeting, saying that the decision was with immediate effect.

He said the state government was forced to take the decision following the refusal of the lecturers to call off their six-month strike.

Bello said ASUU rebuffed all government efforts to persuade it to end the strike, including meeting over 90 percent of the union’s demands.

However, Lagi dismissed the governor’s claim that he had paid all outstanding salaries of the staff.

“This right is clearly enshrined in the ILO Convention on freedom of association and the protection for right to organise, which has been duly ratified by Nigeria,” he said.

“In ILO Convention 87 on freedom of association and freedom to the right to organise, it clearly stated that workers shall have the right to organise and form trade unions and public authorities shall refrain from any interference.

“The provision of the convention is domesticated by the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and is clearly in Section 40 that, every person shall not only be entitled to freely assemble or associate and in particular shall freely form or belong to trade unions and other associations for the protection of his or her interest.”

Lagi said ASUU was an organisation of intellectuals who believe in the rule of law, adding that the union was open to dialogue with a view to resolving the problem.

The ASUU zonal coordinator appealed to well-meaning Nigerians traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil and public servants and esteemed students to prevail on Bello to do the needful.