UNIBEN lecturers threaten to boycott April 28 resumption over assault
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, the University of Benin department, stated on Monday that its members might not resume tutorial actions on April 28 attributable to assaults on lecturers and administration workers by college students of the establishment.
The ASUU management additionally famous that it’s a constraint to embark on instructing and analysis in an atmosphere during which lecturers are prime targets for brutalisation or elimination by some college students who’re labouring to affect the wealth of their mental property following the assault on their members.
The ASUU place is approaching the heels of the tried homicide of Dr Presley Osemwengie, a lecturer within the Department of Economics and member of the University of Benin Branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, by some members of the Executive Committee of the University of Benin Students Union when Labour candidate Olumide Akpata got here to the college on April 12 for an interactive session.
An announcement signed by the Chairman and the Secretary, UNIBEN ASUU, Ray Chikogu, and Success Abusomwan and made out there to journalists in Benin stated Dr Osemwengie was attacked, hit at the back of his head with a small axe and left for useless within the pool of his blood by a few of these within the firm of the Students Union President.
The assertion reads partly, “We are constrained to subject this assertion primarily based on the spate of violence and basic environment of insecurity that has permeated the Ugbowo campus of the University of Benin of
late.
“This culminated within the tried homicide of Dr Presley Osemwengie, a lecturer within the Department of Economics and member of the University of Benin Branch of ASUU, by some members of the Executive Committee of the University of Benin Students Union led by their President and a few ex- in addition to non-students of the University on Friday the twelfth of April, 2024.
“On that fateful day, the President of the Students Union of the University of Benin marched upon a gathering of workers of the University and their invited friends, ordering them to discontinue their interplay as he was not pre-informed and, consequently, didn’t grant permission for the interplay to be held.
“In the ensuing melee, Dr Osemwengie was attacked, hit at the back of his head with a small axe, and left for useless within the pool of his personal blood by a few of these within the firm of the scholars union president.
“It is important to notice that this worrisome pattern started with the assault by each college students and non-students of the college on the individual of the present Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin in September 2021 when she was humiliated and marched from her residence to the Main Gate of the University in very hostile circumstances.
“Other related and really unsavoury incidents during which college students of the University of Benin have threatened and brutalized lecturers have additionally been reported at totally different instances. This can not proceed.
“We want to state now that it’s unattainable for our members to hereafter dispose themselves to any instructing and analysis in an atmosphere during which they’re prime targets for brutalisation or elimination by among the college students they’re labouring to affect with the wealth of their mental property. So, it’s incumbent on the administration of the University of Benin to supply sufficient safety for the college workers and create an environment conducive to efficient instructing and studying on our campuses.
“To the end that our members will feel safe to conduct their business of research, teaching, and supervision going forward from the 28th of April 2024 (being the date of resumption for the next academic session) therefore, and without prejudice to the work of the Committee set up by the University Administration to investigate the incident at stake, we state as follows as encapsulated in the resolutions of the meeting of the Congress of ASUU UNIBEN on Thursday the 18th of April, 2024.”
“Our Union condemns, in very strong terms, the rebellious and terrorising acts of brigandage being carried out by our students both as individuals and under the cover of student unionism in their entirety,” Chikogu stated.
