The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSAN, has accused the Federal Government of encouraging corruption in universities across the country.
According to the union, the FG’s refusal to suspend vice-chancellors of universities who were facing corruption prosecution showed that they were supporting corruption in the academic sector.
SSANU said if the Federal Government could force judges being prosecuted for alleged corruption to step down from their offices, it would be unfair to allow accused vice-chancellors to preside over the affairs of universities while facing trials.
The association’s call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting held at the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe.
The communiqué signed by SSANU’s National President, Mr. Samson Ugwoke, and the National Publicity Secretary, Salaam Abdussobur, was obtained by DAILY POST on Sunday.
According to the communiqué, “NEC-in-Session observed with great worry, the increasing corruption and the consequent intimidation, harassment and victimisation of whistle-blowers who expose the rot and decadence in our universities.
“NEC wondered why vice-chancellors, who are facing criminal prosecutions in competent courts, sit tight in office as in the cases of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, where the vice-chancellors of both universities continue to superintend over the affairs and budgets of the universities, with the active collusion of their governing councils.
“NEC concludes that the Federal Government appears to be encouraging the same corruption it proclaims to fight, with the continued stay in office of these vice-chancellors, who host convocation ceremonies, hold council meetings and take actions that put a moral question on the anti-corruption stance of the Federal Government.
“Further, the Federal Government appears to be operating double standards, if it could insist on the stepping down of Judges being prosecuted for criminal offences, while vice-chancellors are allowed to continue to run amok in universities.
“NEC further observed that the level of sleaze in our universities will remain unchecked, if government does not take firm and decisive steps to nip it in bud. NEC, therefore, advises the government to act decisively and concretely on the growing tide of corruption in our ivory towers.
“If government is, indeed, convinced and determined to stem the tide of corruption in Nigeria, the university system must not be immune from its searchlight. If we are to bequeath our future generations an incorruptible legacy, then our universities and institutions of learning must be monitored closely.”
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