The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has condemned in strong terms the alleged latest discoveries of illicit recruitment tactics by the management at the Federal University of Technology, FUT, Minna, Niger State, thereby undermining the integrity of academic appointments.
The chairman of the FUT Minna branch of ASUU, Professor Gbolahan Bolarin, in a press statement made available to journalists in Minna, Niger State, noted with concern the university administration’s flagrant disregard for due process and infringement on university autonomy.Bolarin claimed that there is manipulation in recruitment procedures aimed at reducing academic appointments into mere political instruments, which is becoming alarming and inappropriate.
He stated: ” For example, a senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, through his Senior Legislative Aide, SLA, proudly displayed in public the letters of employment of two individuals that benefited from the illegal recruitment process, which was captured as a constituency project.”He explained that as a union of academics, its members are worried about the collusion between the university administration, politicians and staff of the Accountant General Office (IPPIS, to be specific) to undermine the integrity of academic appointments.
Our Union posited that the Federal University of Technology Minna, just like other universities has been charged with safeguarding the ideals of academic independence, transparency and merit,” he argued.