The Joint Union of Plateau State owned Tertiary Institutions (JUPTI) has faulted the removal of Heads of the state owned tertiary institutions by the State Government.
The union at a press conference on Tuesday which was held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ Secretariat, Jos, noted that their appointment were in accordance with Edicts and Laws that established the Institutions.
Text of the press conference which was read by chairman of the joint union, Comrade Sunoe Peter Longbaam opined that the removal of the officers was not in line with extant laws governing the institutions.
“We are afraid, these acts might be counterproductive with gross and imaginable consequences in the accreditation of our academic programs.
“As if the damage done with the removals was not enough, again without minding the position of the Edit, we were again confronted with what the government term ” Temporary appointment” even where exists Deputy and which by law should rightly be given such position. We asked again gentlemen of the press, how can we have Temporary heads of tertiary institutions where there exists deputy(s)?” The statement queries.
While noting that the action was in total disregard to Laws guiding the operation of the institutions, the union said it is a setback to the educational system.
“This is a serious setback in our quest for a better Educational system in the state. We are really worried about the future of our tertiary Education, this same government set up visitation panels to these institutions, where are the reports?
“We demand that Government should re-visit its action for the sake of industrial harmony.” read the statement.
The union also spoke on the cancellation of the employment done in October, 2022, by the last administration, according to them, the employment was done to bridge the manpower gap in the tertiary institutions.
The union said the white paper report of a committee earlier set up by the current administration to look into the employment was very explicit and did not cancel the employment done in tertiary institutions, rather recommended that Governing Council be constituted with the view to implement the white paper report.
“The issue of employment was a product of agreement reached with Government leading to the recruitment of staff in October, 2022.
“This action will definitely constitute a setback in our tertiary institutions. It is sad that it is the educational sector that Government chose to politicize when we expect pro-activeness in the educational sector.
“The Union believe that Government is aware that this recruitment was timely and long overdue and some little procedural lapses should not be used to unjustly destroy the system.
“Government should note that these institutions have already suffered negligence in the past for too long and not again this time. Our staff have been overwhelmed with overstressed schedules of duty.
“We wish to request that Government should have a rethink and isolate candidates with questionable issues and reinstate the staff who are qualified and especially those cleared by successive committees in the interest of industrial harmony.” The statement added.
The union called on members of the public and well-meaning Plateau people, to intervene for the newly employed staff to be reinstated.
It would be recalled that Daily News Breakers had Thursday, 8th February, 2024, reported a similar reaction to the removal of the Vice Chancellor, Plateau State University, Bokkos, by Butura Youths and the reappointment of new VC on temporal engagement.