SSANU on the brink amidst calls for National President ouster

All is not well within the ranks of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) even as it gears up for its 3rd Quadrennial National Delegates Conference on Thursday.

Some voices are against the activities of the National President, Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim which they described as draconian and not adhering to the rule of law.

They complain of the National President’s polarizing the Association for his selfish benefits and therefore should not be re-elected for another four-year term.

SSANU members from the Federal University, Wukari in Taraba State, Godwin Ingyaken and Gideon Ghajiga in various statements, said Comrade Ibrahim is high-handed and has completely destroyed the Association.

They gave reasons why Comrade Ibrahim should be voted out at the Delegates Conference. These include allegation that the National President has reduced the Union to something else as he sits in Abuja and takes major decisions affecting member’s welfare without getting approval from National Administrative Committee (NAC) or Congresses. For example, suspension of 2022 and 2024 strikes, directly or indirectly caused confusion, division and unrests in virtually all branches, for example at Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State among others and his four years tenure is marred with several court cases, ever in the history of the Union’s existence.

Other reasons proffered by Ingyaken and Ghajiga for delegates not to re-elect Comrade Ibrahim are that he singlehandedly withdraws money from SSANU accounts to construct a hotel and at the commencement of the project without carrying any NAC member a long until complaints were raised before he constituted a kangaroo and rubber stamp committee, he didn’t award the project according to Public Procurement Act’s best practices, unilaterally withdraws money without the consent of other NAC members, assumes his pronouncements are greater than the SSANU Constitution and rules by “Decrees”, for example, his Presidential Pardon that was nullified by the Court and does not tolerates opposing views from members.

Besides, the duo alleged he barred branches he perceived to be his enemies from participating in the forthcoming delegates Conference for his re-election, for example, Federal University, Dutse and Federal University, Wukari, where he could not barred branches he perceives as enemies from participating in the Conference, he reduces the number of their delegates, for example, Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU), Zaria and that he is a dictator and autocratic and blatantly disobeyed court ruling and with a contempt proceedings against him at National Industrial Court in Yola.

They pointed out that the contempt proceedings against him at Industrial court in Yola and other cases against him at industrial court sitting in Abuja makes him unqualified according to Article 16 111 of SSANU Constitution.

According to them, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) under Comrade Ibrahim has been insensitive and insincere in fighting members’ cause.

They explained that in 2022 JAC asked congresses to decide whether to embark on strike or not and they unanimously agreed for a total short down of universities but the same JAC unilaterally called off strike without getting approval from congresses of various branches.

They accused JAC for not interested in the welfare of members but are there for themselves and their cronies and after dues and power.

According to them, they called off the current strike to remain good boys in the eyes of the government of the day and for their re-election bid on Thursday.

They urged delegates to the forthcoming Delegates Conference to vote out Comrade Ibrahim-led executives or they would form a parallel strong university-based non teaching staff association with a robust people constitution to be called ‘Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (NASUONU).’

They pointed out that members should be highly sensitized ahead of the Delegates Conference and when the National President is removed, attention should be shifted to JAC secretary who has become Permanent Secretary.

Besides, Comrade Ibrahim is alleged to be using The Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria outside the Association to support his re-election bid as if SSANU is practicing party politics.

The Coalition in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Aminu Abbas Arabi, said they are supporting Comrade Ibrahim because of his “enthusiasm and passion” for advancing Nigerian universities and consolidating on key initiatives.

Efforts to get Comrade Ibrahim response was abortive as he didn’t reply to the WhatsApp and sms sent to his number and didn’t pick or return calls to his phone number.