ASUU Breaking: Federal University of Technology Owerri Sacks Entire Teaching Staff

The Senate of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) has sacked all academic staff on its payroll with immediate effect on December 2, 2013, Monday, for failure to return to classrooms. This has been confirmed by Mr. Chike Ezenwa, the Public Relations Officers (PRO) of the institution, in a telephone conversation with the Nigerian Tribune in Owerri. According to him, the senate of the university had declared all the positions of academic staff in the institution, adding that they would be advertised starting from December 2, 2013, Monday. The PRO further explained that the senate council had already compiled the list of vacant positions in the school, adding that who were willing to resume would be adequately protected. As concerns resuming the teaching process, the following press release was issued at FUTO: The Senate of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri at its 375th Extraordinary meeting held on Monday, December 2, 2013 considered the directive of the Federal Government on resumption of duty by Academic Staff in Federal Universities and decided that academic activities in the University should resume immediately for the conclusion of the 2012/2013 Rain Semester. Consequently all students of the University are required to return to campus between Monday December 2, and Friday December 8, 2013 while Rain Semester Examinations commence on Monday December 9, 2013 and end on Saturday December 21, 2013. Accordingly, all academic staff are required to proceed immediately to their respective Departments to sign in for resumption of duty not later than Wednesday December 4, 2013. Signed: Orje Ishegh-Nor Registrar/Secretary to the Senate However, the FUTO branch of ASUU said any attempt to break their ranks would be strongly resisted by their members. The Monday's communiqué urged members to ignore the resumptionnotice by FUTO management, adding that the branch would not engage in any academic activities until the Federal Government committed itself to implementing the ASUU-FGN agreement. Naij