One Mr. Christian Chinedum John, 58, from Nchara-Akanu, Afa autonomous community, Ikwuano Local Government Area (LGA), Abia state has allegedly gone into depression and about to commit suicide over the refusal of the management of Abia State University Uturu (ABSU) to reinstate him nor pay his entitlements after being disengaged since 2004.
Speaking with National Ambassador, Mr. John stated that life has become unbearable for him since he was unlawfully disengaged from service without any form entitlement as his wife and five children have left him due to his inability to foot their bills.
John further disclosed that despite interventions from relevant bodies to reinstate him proved abortive, describing his disengagement as illegal.
He revealed that nothing less than five persons out of 15 persons unlawfully disengaged has died due to their inability to carter for their health and other physical needs whereas their children have dropped out of school.
John had protested his sack in 2004, insisting that he was unlawfully disengaged which led to the constitution of different panels of enquiries that produced different white papers.
In a letter dated November 9, 2007 with reference number MJA/S.8/Vol.11/234 signed by the Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Abia state, and sighted by National Ambassador, the white paper frowned at the termination of their appointment, describing it null and void.
The white paper insisted that the termination or disengagement of the petitioners from the employ of the university was in gross violation of the provisions of the extant laws that govern the activities of the university and to that extent null and void.
It consequently advised that the disengaged petitioners be reinstated as academic and non-academic staff respectively of the Abia State University Uturu, to their posts prior to their unlawful termination, with their full salaries.
“It is further advised Sir, that all entitlements and benefits accruable to the affected staff prior to their termination be restored to them in the interest of justice”, the white paper further reads.
Information gathered revealed that a 7-man judicial panel of inquiry headed by Hon. Justice C.O.C. Izima (of blessed memory) also absolved the disengaged ABSU staff of any wrong doing and recommended their first choice reinstatement.
The Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly (ABHA), the Leader, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, had in a letter dated January 22, 2018, expressed displeasure over the flagrant disregard of the ABHA resolution by ABSU’s management to reinstate the disengaged staff within 30 days of the receipt of same as therein directed.
In a related development, the ABHA in their subsequent response dated October 7, 2020, the Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Barr. Emeka Okoroafor expressed dismay over the matter, stating that the institution has further refused to keep to their own side of the agreement despite all white paper reports to reinstate the disengaged staff.
Mr. John pleaded on the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, and other well-meaning Nigerians to come to his rescue, maintaining that ABSU Pro-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Registrar among others have made life miserable for him in the past 17 years of his disengagement from service.
All efforts to reach the ABSU Public Relations Officer (PRO), on the matter proved abortive, as several calls and text messages put across to his phone number got no response as at the time of filing in this report.
