UNN Crisis: Workers Resume Protest, Insist VC Must Go

Posted by African Examiner education, Featured, Latest Headlines, News Monday, January 6th, 2014

Workers of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) made good their threat of continuing with their protest until the embattled Vice Chancellor, professor Bartho Okolo is removed, as they staged another round of joint demonstration on Monday in the school.

Embattled UNN Vice Chancellor, Professor Bartho Okolo.

They vowed to continue with the protest until professor Okolo, is shown the exit door by the federal government.

African Examiner reports that the workers, who just returned from Christmas and New Year break began the protest on December 18, 2013, following the sudden removal of the university Pro- Chancellor, Dr. Emeka Enejere by the supervising minister of education, Onyeso Wike.

They are however, urging the Federal Government to reinstate the suspended Pro-chancellor of the university, and remove Okolo on allegation of corruption and financial recklessness.

The protesting workers, were led under the platform of Joint Action Committees (JAC), by the University union leaders, who included Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Abada, ASUU, Godfrey Ugwu, NASU, Mr Anthony Onwu of NATT and Mr Paul Obodoike of SSANU.

They commenced the Mondays protest with a prayer session at the UNN Freedom Square, after which the workers marched to the second gate opposite Zik’s Flat hostels, chanting solidarity songs.

However, the protest, which lasted several hours, brought academic and administrative activities to a halt in the ivory tower.

Speaking with reporters, spokesman of JAC, Abada, chairman of ASUU-UNN had stated that workers want government to remove the VC for allegedly running the university as his personal business.

Besides, they also requested the setting up of a panel of inquiry to probe the VC’s administration.

“UNN workers want government to remove Okolo and set up a panel of inquiry to probe him on his financial recklessness and refusal to adhere to due process in awarding contracts”. The Union demanded.