Kano varsity COEASU accuses factional ASUU of impersonation
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) at Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano, has disowned a group of academic staff claiming to represent the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) within the institution.
Chairman of the union, Ado Muhammad Abdullahi, said during an emergency congress on Monday that the institution is still undergoing a transition from a college of education to a university and, as such, COEASU remains the recognised union for academic staff.
“We are still under COEASU, and the entire institution is in transition. Those parading themselves as ASUU representatives are not recognized here,” he stated.
Abdullahi explained that the emergency meeting was convened in response to reports circulating on social media and in some newspapers, where a group claimed to represent ASUU and announced actions purportedly taken on behalf of academic staff.
“These individuals are impersonating. They did not emerge through a recognized congress. They simply appointed themselves as chairman and vice chairman without the knowledge of our members,” he said.
SolaceBase reports that Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education Kano (YUMSFUEK) ASUU branch, recently demanded the immediate removal of the Chairman, Governing Council of the institution, Professor Ahmad Adamu.
The group alleged that Professor Adamu’s dual role as Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Chairman of the Governing Council at YUMSFUEK constituted a conflict of interest, which they claimed was slowing the university’s transition process.
They also rejected an alleged plan by the university’s council to appoint a new Vice Chancellor without due process and to reposition Dr. Sadi Mohammed Sirajo as acting Deputy Vice Chancellor.
But Abdullahi dismissed these claims, insisting that the council chairman was duly appointed by the Federal Ministry of Education and has been working with stakeholders in the institution.
“We are civil servants. We follow the directives of the government. The ministry sent the council chairman here and we have been working with him. Nobody can dictate to the government how to run its institutions,” he said.
The COEASU chairman said the union will write to the Federal Ministry of Education to counter the petition sent by the self-acclaimed ASUU group, stating clearly that COEASU is the only recognized academic union at the institution.
He also said the union will report the development to the university management and governing council, urging authorities to act against those promoting division.
He was also quoted as saying, “The university has been peaceful until now. We won’t allow a few individuals to create confusion.”
Abdullahi further clarified that Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education is one of six former colleges recently upgraded to universities. The others include institutions are in Zaria, Oyo, Alvan Ikoku, and Kontagora.
“All these institutions are still in transition. None of them has fully moved to ASUU. So the agitation by this group in our institution is premature,” he said.
He urged all academic staff to remain united under COEASU until the proper time for transition comes and is guided by official channels.
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