COEASU Dissociate Self From Vilification Of ASUU On Perceived Misconduct Of INEC Ad-Hoc Staff

Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has dissociated itself from a publication claiming that the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC) member has vilified Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on perceived misconduct of INEC Ad-Hoc Staff.

COEASU president, Dr. Smart Olugbeko said in a statement on Tuesday that the writer of the article under reference is on his own and errs by dragging the name of COEASU and its NEC into the write-up because he is not the spokesman of the Union neither does the content of his article represent the position thereof in any material sense.

The statement reads in some parts, “Our attention has been drawn to a trending article by one Rev. Fr. Benedict C.C. Amuchie charging the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to “act now or remain silent forever” by sanctioning Professors perceived to have connived with politicians to rig the just concluded national elections.

“Ordinarily, the write-up would not have attracted our response except that the writer designated himself as a member of the National Executive Council (NEC) of our Union and this is capable of misleading readers to erroneously take the article as our Union’s position.

“The NEC of COEASU is the Union’s general Congress comprising members of the National Officers’ Council (NOC), former Presidents of the Union as well as Chairmen and Secretaries of Chapters nationwide. The leadership, day-to-day administration and authority for the Union’s engagements are vested in NOC.

“By the way, we are well aware that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), prior to the election, publicly dissociated itself from the conduct of the election stating that any of her members who participate as INEC ad-hoc staff does so in their personal capacity, not as representative of ASUU.

“Our awareness of this declaration, coupled with the principles of mutual respect guarding our relationship with sister Unions including ASUU, would make it impossible for us to blame ASUU or hold it responsible for anybody’s role at the said election,” he said.

Olugbeko added that any member of COEASU who may choose to serve as ad-hoc staff for INEC does so in their personal capacity and the Union should not, in any way, be held responsible for their misconduct.