The Nsukka Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has disowned the ASUU splinter group formed recently by some aggrieved lecturers of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, over the manner of running of its local ASUU branch.

The ASUU zone comprising Anambra State University, Uli; Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki; Abia State University, Uturu; Enugu State University of Technology, Enugu; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; and University of Nigeria, Nsukka, were in Awka on a solidarity visit to their members at UNIZIK or NAU as the school is also known.

Dr. Chidi Osuagwu, the Coordinator of Nsukka Zone of ASUU, said at a news conference in Awka that the splinter group from the UNIZIK ASUU known as ASUU NAU Progressives is not recognised by ASUU. He added that as a registered trade union in Nigeria, ASUU is one united and very disciplined body of academics with a highly developed organisational structure.

“The union will do everything in its powers to protect her members in the pursuit of their legitimate duties, rights and entitlements.We wish to state categorically that any group claiming membership of ASUU and not covered by the constitution and code of practice of the union is doing so at its own risk as the union, at any point in time, will not hesitate to invoke relevant sections of the constitution to address any such breach,” Dr. Osuagwu said.

The ASUU Zonal Coordinator recalled that 12 years ago, a group emerged in the same UNIZIK claiming to be the true leadership of ASUU NAU, but the group fizzled out later because it was neither constituted nor recognised by the national body of ASUU.

He also noted that the person who claimed to be leading ASUU Progressives in UNIZIK has never been a member of ASUU and wondered how he could claim that he is leading a breakaway ASUU.

Osuagwu maintained that the zone was solidly behind UNIZIK ASUU on its insistence that the senate of the university should be properly constituted as provided by law. He made it clear that a situation whereby people not qualified to attend senate meetings became electors of senate members of the governing council was not acceptable to ASUU.

“It would appear that section 3 (1) f of the law establishing the university has been used as a cover to bring all manners of officers into senate when, in fact, the intendment of this clause is the heads and acting heads of department who have responsibility for academic development in their various departments to report and defend senate. The Vice-Chancellor should no longer be allowed to manipulate the intendment of section 3 (1) f to bring all manner of people into senate,” the ASUU zonal leader stated.

•Photo shows UNIZIK VC, Prof. Boniface Egboka.