.Appoints caretaker chairmen for 21 LGs
There is tension in Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) insists that the Vice Chancellor, Prof Tor Iorapuu, must be sacked.
Consequently, the union has embarked on strike to press home its demand, which some stakeholders in the education sector have faulted, insisting that ASUU has no power and right to demand the sack of a sitting VC.
Findings by The Guardian revealed that the ongoing strike had nothing to do with the welfare of workers, which is the priority of all unions, as the university is up-to-date with payment of salaries and earned allowances.
According to sources, students of the university are already planning to stage a mega protest in Makurdi, the state capital, over the prolonged strike, which started just as examinations were about to commence.
The strike, they added, was about personal issues being advanced by those who were said to have lost out in their race for the VC position.
The Guardian learnt that the reforms introduced by Iorapuu against the old order of financial management is one of the issues most staff at the management level are not comfortable with; hence, the crisis.
A meeting convened at the instance of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Joseph Alkali, last week, ended in deadlock, as the issues presented before the government by the union members were reportedly personal.
“For instance, when the SSG asked them to explain their grievances, instead of talking about issues of official concern or welfare, they were demanding the removal of the VC for the simple reason that he was brought from outside to head the university.
“The SSG, who also came from the university, became furious and called off the meeting, since there was no substance in the union members’ presentation,” said a source who was in the meeting.
Apart from the clamour for leadership and reforms, the delay and interference with students results, which the VC was against, coupled with academic sterility of some lecturers and the need for staff audit, are reportedly some of the reasons for the strike.
