THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Katsina chapter, has welcomed the sacking of the Vice Chancellor of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina, Professor Sanusi Mamman and the Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Mu’uta Ibrahim.

It will be recalled that on Wednesday night, after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, which was presided over by the governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, the state government announced the sacking of the two academics.

This was later confirmed by the governor’s Special Adviser on Higher Education, Bashir Ruwangodiya, who spoke to journalists after the SEC meeting.

According to Ruwangodiya, the decision of the state government to remove the University Vice Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor was as a result of adopting the recommendations which were done by the white paper drafting committee on Visitation Panel, responsible for the investigation of activities that concerns the varsity.

Ruwangodiya said that: “After the four-hour holistic study of the white paper reports on the visitation panel’s recommendations, it was established that there are procedural bridges, financial misconduct, and other moral issues, and the government must take far-reaching decisions to save the university from being crippled.

“It was established that leaving the university vice chancellor in his office would be detrimental to the university. So he must vacate that office immediately. The Pro-Chancellor/Chairman should also immediately leave that office.”

Speaking on the adoption of the recommendations of the white paper, the SA to the governor on Higher Education said: “At the SEC meeting, we deliberated and subjected the white paper recommendations to a holistic analysis before we came up with the decisions.

The aim was to come up with the decisions that would bring back the glory of the UMYU, which the state would be proud of, and that would be a source of pride for the Nigerian academic community and the international community.’’

Meanwhile, the chairman of ASUU of the university branch, Murtala Kwarah, on Thursday morning confirmed that the members of the union welcomed the removal of the Vice Chancellor and the Pro-Chancellor, while pleading that the government work on appointing another Vice Chancellor.

In his words, he said: “The union members welcomed the development and urged the state government to appoint a new vice chancellor for the university on time.”

Tags: Mu’uta Ibrahim Sanusi Mamman