By Mimi Chiadikobi
Awka, Sept. 12, 2024 Dennis Aribodor, a Professor of Public Health Parasitology, has commended the maiden celebration of “Victimised Lecturers Day” held across the country by The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on September 10.
Aribodor, a lecture at the Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, and the coordinator of the Owerri Zone of the union said in an interview with The Newsmen in Awka on Thursday.
He said that ASUU Victimised Lecturers Day was meant to draw attention to the suffering and injustice Lecturer suffer for standing up to defend the truth and hold University Administrations accountable.
“The assessment of the Day was significant because victimisation of some of our members in some universities were made known to the public.
“There were protests, rally, media engagements among others to mark the maiden day and it is hoped that its annual celebration will yield desired goal of the Day,”he said.
Aribodor noted that some lecturers have been dismissed, suspended, denied promotion, denied salaries, stopped from participating in statutory meetings and other victimised actions.
“It is hoped that relevant authorities in Kogi State University, Lagos State University, Ebonyi State University, Ambrose Ali University, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Federal University of Technology Owerri and other Universities where lecturers are being victimised would do the needful to correct the wrongs.
He said that going forward, the union will review the outcome of the public awareness and decide further actions to reverse the injustices experience by the union members across the nation’s universities.
Aribodor commended the decisions of members its National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting held at University of Ibadan 17 – 18th August for such rich idea.