The Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture has announced a three-day warning strike in protest against the appointment of a university professor, Prof. Jeremiah Atumgwu, as the Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Addressing journalists in Jos, Plateau State, on Thursday, ASUCA National President, Williams Manggoel, said the strike would run from Monday to Wednesday next week following the expiration of a 21-day notice issued by the union.
“We have exhausted the 21-day notice provided by the law and have decided to embark on three days warning strike,” Manggoel declared.
He described Atumgwu’s appointment as a violation of the advertised criteria, which stipulated that only Assistant Directors, Associate Professors, or Principal Lecturers from National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs) were eligible to apply.
“The appointments of university professors as Provost/CEO in Colleges of Agriculture will not just cause brain drain, but it is demoralising and a discouragement to academic staff who have given their best to rise to the zenith of their career,” Manggoel stated.
The union also objected to the advertisement for the position of Provost/CEO at the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, which listed Associate Professor as the minimum qualification.
ASUCA insisted that only qualified staff from FCAs and NARIs should be considered and called for the withdrawal and correction of the advertisement.
“We demand that the advertisement should be same as that of FCA, Ibadan as there has not been any new Act or circular or letter between the two advertisement’s dates,” the union stated.
ASUCA warned that bringing in university professors unfamiliar with the unique challenges of agricultural colleges could destabilise the system.
“We consider this inclusion as a means of re-inviting university professors into a system they are not conversant with, especially our challenges, but only interested in personal benefits after which they return to the university, leaving the Colleges of Agriculture in a deplorable state.
“The union considers this advertisement a direct affront and gross disregard for the autonomy and unique identity of our system. The Colleges of Agriculture are distinct in mission, vision, structure and its leadership should rightly emerge from within the system.
“Allowing university professors to apply for Provost/CEO in Colleges of Agriculture would undermine the career progression of academic staff and create unnecessary tension, dissatisfaction, and potential instability within the system,” Manggoel added.
The union also decried delays in the release of the Scheme of Service (SOS) and Condition of Service (COS) for Federal Colleges of Agriculture, which it said have led to the continued use of outdated documents.
