ABIA HOUSE ASKS VARSITY TO REINSTATE 11 SACKED WORKERS

By ANAYO OKOLI
UMUAHIA-THE Abia State House of Assembly, has directed the Abia State University, Uturu, to respect its resolutions and reinstate 11 staff sacked by the university in 2004 for the reason that they were 'adjudged surplus to need.'

The sacked staff were Dr. T.E.C. Obi, Lucas Madumere, Nwakwe Opanwa, Uche Ochulor, Ezekwesiri Nkwoure, Doglas Nwagboso, Sylvanus  Nwabugbogu, Kalu Agbeze, Ekeoma Ugbaja, Kalu Chukwuemeka and Joseph Chikezie.

The House also warned the university to 'stop further down playing the resolution of the House and reinstate Dr. T. E.C. Obi and 10 others to their jobs.'

The action of the House followed earlier refusal of the university to implement the resolution of the previous House led by Chief Stanley Ohajuruka which in 2007 directed the university to reinstate the affected workers.

It will be recalled that the former Speaker, Ohajuruka had in a letter, dated May 14, 2007, written to the Vice Chancellor of the University, urged him to obey the resolution of the House and reinstate the affected staff.

The House in its fresh resolution also urged Governor Theodore Orji to 'ignore obstructive tactics of Abia State University and rely on the advice of the then Solicitor-General/ Government Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. O.U. Abaonwu in her letter.'

The said letter from the solicitor-general, dated November 9, 2007, had advised the governor to approve the reinstatement of the 11 sacked university workers, insisting that their termination or disengagement 'from the employ of the university was in gross violation of the provisions of the extant laws that govern activities and powers of the university, and to that extent null and void.'