June 17, (THEWILL) – The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, has disowned and condemned the formation of an Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter by some of its members, describing the move as illegal and premature.
At a press conference held in Kano on Tuesday, the union’s Chairman, Ado Mohammed Abdullahi, said the university’s transition from a college of education to a full-fledged university is still ongoing, and therefore, the conditions for joining ASUU have not yet been met.
“We strongly reject the emergence of this illegal union formed by some of our members and its activities. It is illegal because we are not yet ripe to become members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),” Abdullahi stated.
He explained that the former Federal College of Education, Kano, was only recently upgraded to Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, and the union is currently working through a formal process to align with ASUU requirements.
The COEASU chairman said the union’s congress had convened a meeting where it unanimously condemned the actions of the breakaway group and a petition the group reportedly submitted to the Minister of Education, calling for the removal of the university’s Governing Council Chairman and Acting Vice Chancellor.
“We hereby distance ourselves from the petition sent to the Minister of Education by this illegal group. We are not part of any attempt to remove our Council Chairman or Acting Vice Chancellor,” he said.
Abdullahi added that the union has reported the activities of the splinter group to the university’s Standing Disciplinary Committee for investigation and appropriate sanctions.
He reaffirmed COEASU’s commitment to lawful engagement and institutional development, calling on members to remain united during the institution’s transition process.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
