UniAbuja: Lawmaker tackles ASUU over claim

House of Representatives member representing Jere Federal Constituency, Engineer Satome Ahmed, yesterday said contrary to claim by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ibadan branch, the appointment of Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’allah as vice chancellor of University of Abuja, was based on merit. The union has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari had in spite of […]

House of Representatives member representing Jere Federal Constituency, Engineer Satome Ahmed, yesterday said contrary to claim by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ibadan branch, the appointment of Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’allah as vice chancellor of University of Abuja, was based on merit.

The union has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari had in spite of being indicted of corruption, by a Visitation Panel of Kwara State University, Malete, where he served as VC, appointed Na’allah as VC of Uniabuja.

Hon. Satome said in an interview in Abuja that there was no iota of truth in the claim and that the appointment of Na’allah was based on his ability to perform the job, rather than on his political affiliations.

He said President Buhari had wholeheartedly resolved to stamp out corruption and couldn’t have been involved in shoddy deals.

He said over dozens of professors applied for the position of VC of Uniabuja out which about 14 were shortlisted; all their previous achievements and failures were screened by the university’s governing council before Na’allah successfully got the job.

He said the council must have examined methodically, all protests against any of the shortlisted candidates, before finding Professor Na’allah to have adequate merit.

“Professor Na’allah is my teacher and is well-known to me for over 20 years. Looking at his pedigree, he is the right person for the job,” Satome said.

He further said, “I don’t really know the ASUU branch that made the allegation against the VC, and I don’t expect the union to politicise the matter.

“The university is in safe hands with Professor Na’allah steering its affairs, especially looking at his background. His students would attest to the fact that he is just, fair and treats people with respect.

“And one would like to ask, why is the union only interested in University of Abuja and now? I think there is something wrong.

“I have not seen Professor Na’allah for over six years now but from what I know and witnessed under his stewardship in Kwara State University both as a lecturer and vice chancellor whom a lot of students would bear me out, he is straightforward.”

He said unsubstantiated allegations against public officers must be stopped especially if the education sector is to be improved otherwise “posterity will judge us harshly if we allow things to continue this way.”