Osun Assembly assures to resolve sack lecturers cases

The Osun State House of Assembly on Wednesday assured that some of lecturers of the four state-owned tertiary institutions affected by the downsizing of workers in their various campuses would be recalled, if they have genuine cases.

Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye

The Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam gave the assurance while receiving the save our soul message from the leadership of the Osun chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Council of Academic Staff Unions of Osun Tertiary Institutions (CASUOSTI).

A statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, said the speaker hinted that even before the Assembly was formally informed of the retrenchment exercise, it has taken proactive measure by calling for files of the affected staff.

He said, Salaam noted that the intervention of the Assembly has started having positive effect, saying, due to the call for the files alone, the number of affected lecturers in the College of Education, Ila-Orangun has reduced from 72 to 36.

“We can assure you that we will look into the files of the affected staff, ensure that justice is done and make sure that nobody is unjustifiably sacked.

“What we cannot assure you is that all the affected staff would be recalled, because, we all know that we will definitely have some that have committed one disciplinary offence or the other.

Salaam who, according to the statement, noted that the decision to sack the lecturers was not the making of the Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, stressed that the governor meant well for the state.

He further said that after the review of the cases of the affected staff, appropriate recommendation would be made to ensure justice.

Salaam then advised the affected lecturers to stay off the campuses until their cases are reviewed and resolved to avoid embarrassment.

Earlier, the NLC Chairman, Comrade Jacob Adekomi and the CASUOSTI Chairman, Comrade Jimoh Lasisi, urged the Assembly to review the cases of the affected lecturers and ensure that they are recalled.

Commending the Assembly that the action taken by the house so far has been effective, they urged the house to do more.