ASUU says it rejects illegal dissolution of governing council, not Gawuna’s appointment as BUK chair

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bayero University Kano branch has refuted claims that it rejected the appointment of Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna as newly appointed chairman of its governing council.

SolaceBase recalls that Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress in Kano 2023 general elections was recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu-led administration as chairman, BUK governing council.

A statement jointly issued by Academic Staff Union of Universities, Bayero University Kano branch chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Tajo Siraj and secretary, Comrade Kabiru Haruna Isa, respectively, on Sunday debunked a viral story saying Nasiru Gawuna is rejected by BUK staff.

It said the protest march of its members held last Friday at BUK old site was in compliance with the directive of the national body of ASUU to express displeasure over illegal termination of the governing council of federal universities members’ appointment among other demands of the union and not specifically against any individual.

The statement read,’’ The attention of ASUU-BUK has been drawn to some viral mischievous newspaper headlines and memes that were intended to sensationalize, misrepresent and politicize the principled stance of ASUU on the illegal dissolution and appointment of Governing Councils of federal universities.

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The union said,’’ To set the record straight, ASUU-BUK, like all sister branches nationwide, staged a peaceful protest and organized a press conference on Friday, 21 June 2024 to call attention to the Federal Government’s failure to address the contentious issues in the FGN/ASUU 2009 Agreement,2020 Memorandum of Understanding ) and 2022 Memorandum of Action (MoA) signed between ASUU and FGN, This was in compliance with directive of the National Executive Council of ASUU.

‘’Dissolution of the Governing Councils before the expiration of their tenures by the Tinubu-led administration was one of the issues that featured in the press conference. ASUU maintains that this action has contravened the University Miscellaneous Act, hindered the smooth operation of our universities and enabled all sorts of illegality. It also calls for the reinstatement of the dissolved Councils.’’

‘’To our dismay, one online newspaper, Kano Time, whose reporter was neither at the protest

nor the venue of the press conference made a malicious headline, which reads: “Bayero

University staff protest against Gawuna’s appointment to Council.” Another Independent

made an equally sensationalized headline: “ASUU rejects Gawuna, others on Governing Council of BUK favours Udoma’s return”.

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”It must be reiterated that the concern of ASUU-BUK is not on the appointment of Gawuna

or any other individual into the Governing Council of BUK, but on the flawed process leading

to the dissolution of the Governing Councils of federal universities whose tenures have not

expired. For the avoidance of doubt, the text of our press conference is already in the

public domain and nowhere Gawuna’s, Udoma’s or any other politician’s name was mentioned

there.

”ASUU-BUK urges newspaper reporters to, in the interest of fairness, professionalism

and ethics, avoid misleading the gullible public for whatever motive.