The Governing Council of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has suspended the Chairman and Secretary of the university’s chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
The university administration says the suspensions were carried out by the Governing Council, not by the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, and were done in accordance with due process and the university’s established disciplinary procedures.
This comes after some media reports alleged that the Vice-Chancellor personally suspended the two SSANU officials for opposing him, following accusations that the VC sexually harassed and victimized staff members. However, the university claims these allegations against the VC are false and damaging, noting that a police investigation absolved the VC of any criminal wrongdoing.
According to a statement issued by the VC’s legal counsel, the affected staff members were duly queried and suspended by the Governing Council, the statutory body legally empowered to handle such matters, after considering their written representations. The statement emphasizes that the action was unrelated to any alleged opposition to the Vice-Chancellor.“The suspension of the said staff of the University (the Chairman and Secretary of SSANU–FUOYE Branch) was not initiated or executed by the Vice-Chancellor but was the decision of the University’s Governing Council,” the statement reads in part. “The Governing Council’s action was consistent with the extant laws and disciplinary procedures governing the University as clearly stipulated under the FUOYE Act.”
The university administration expressed disappointment that some were determined to spread unfounded allegations to harm the reputation of the VC and the institution. It called on media outlets to act responsibly by publishing its account of events and correcting any reputational damage caused by the earlier reports.
