Your Excellency Sir, bearing in mind that the Public Service was established by section 169 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, total disregard to Public Service Rules means outright disbelief in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which violates Section 203 of the Nigeria Criminal Code Act.
Dear Sir,
I write this open letter to you assuming you are yet to receive my petition to you about the crisis that has engulfed University of Abuja for the past 2 weeks when the branch of ASUU embarked on strike. I can recollect vividly that on 1st of March, 2023 during your acceptance speech as the President-elect of Nigeria, you promised the youths of Nigeria that there would be no more strikes in our universities and a 4-year programme would run for only 4 years. Reflect on that here.
On the 24th April, 2024. When I saw crisis’ handwriting written all over the walls of University of Abuja, and as an elder statesman like you and a strong believer in the Yoruba proverb that says ” Àwọn alàgbà kò gbọ́dọ̀ fàyè gba àwọn ìṣẹ̀lẹ̀ tí kò tọ́ lójú won’, I rushed to your office with a petition that would have nipped in the bud the current face-off between University of Abuja VC who ought to have commenced his pre-retirement leave 45 days ago and ASlUU. Although, my intention was not just to submit the petition, I had wanted to have a round table discussion with you on the face-off between the Vice Chancellor and ASUU. However, that never happened because of your work schedules on that fateful day.
Also, as someone who has had interactions with you in the past and observed you to be a good listener, I know that you take prompt actions on urgent issues such as this.
Your Excellency Sir, bearing in mind that the Public Service was established by section 169 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, total disregard to Public Service Rules means outright disbelief in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which violates Section 203 of the Nigeria Criminal Code Act.
Your Excellency, this open letter becomes necessary in case if you have not seen my petition which was received and acknowledged on the 24 April, 2024 in your office. The published version of that petition can be read here.
In case if you are so busy to read it, any other person close to you may read it and draw your attention to it. I can recall an open letter I wrote to your predecessor when I observed his loop-sided appointments in August, 2015 expressing my displeasure over such appointments. Few days after, during a network news, he promised to be fair to all segments of the Nigeria society, which means either he read that open letter or someone drew his attention to it. Though, it is one thing to say something and another to do it. That letter may also be read here
Your Excellency, as you have ordered some Chief Executive Officers who wanted to disobey PSR Nos 100238 and 120243 in the past to proceed on their pre-retirement leaves it is only good that you order Na’allah to proceed on such leave. This would demonstrate to Nigerians that favoritism has no place in your administration as exemplified in all your appointments.
Although, there is no doubt that this strike affects only University of Abuja for now, I can tell you without mincing words that since ASUU Headquarters is located within the university, some other branches of ASUU may embark on solidarity strike to support Uniabuja ASUU soonest and as such, your prompt action is required. A single individual’s interest must not and should not supersede that of thousands of students and staff affected by the ongoing strike action.
My humble prayer is that if you cannot immediately re-constitute the Governing Council of University of Abuja, then you should as the Visitor to the university order the outgoing Vice Chancellor to commence his belated pre-retirement leave with immediate effect and account for his actions for the 45 days he stayed back in the office. This I know can proffer lasting solution to the lingering crisis in the only ivory tower located in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
Thanks, I wish you the best option in the resolution.
Yours faithfully,
Okike Benjamin
A Professor of Information Encryption and Computer Cyber Security