Proscription order: ASUU mocks ‘ignorant’ Bello

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) on Thursday tackled the Kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, saying that he lacks the powers to proscribe the activities of the union in the state owned university, Anyigba. The Zonal Coordinator, Nsukka Zone of the union, Prof David Ikoni, while speaking with newsmen in Lokoja said the […]

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) on Thursday tackled the Kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, saying that he lacks the powers to proscribe the activities of the union in the state owned university, Anyigba.

The Zonal Coordinator, Nsukka Zone of the union, Prof David Ikoni, while speaking with newsmen in Lokoja said the action of the governor revealed his ignorance of the law and the rules guiding the operations of ASUU.

He said that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the union would meet on Saturday for further actions on the matter.

According to him, the action of the governor had portrayed him as a despot, adding that the purported proscription is null and void.

"By section 40 of the Constitution, every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interest.

"The actions of the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello of allegedly proscribing ASUU-KSU, Anyigba therefore smacked off ignorance of the position of law and brings to fore the question of whether he has the mental capacity and the needed leadership quality to lead as a governor".

He argued that ASUU, as a trade union with several members, had every right to agitate and struggle for the protection of the interest and welfare of its members especially in a democratic setting.