SSANU threatens FUTO for ordering staff resumption | EduCeleb
EduCeleb
31st July 2020
The national leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has said it will hold the management of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) responsible for any outbreak of Coronavirus in the university.
SSANU’s stance followed a resumption order contained in an internal memorandum, signed by the university’s registrar, J. U. Nnabuihe, on 20th July, directing non-teaching staff to resume work immediately.
In response to the directive, the SSANU, in a letter to the university’s vice-chancellor, described the directive as “ill-intended and overzealous”.
The letter, dated 24th July, and signed by the national president of SSANU, Sampson Ugwuoke, demanded the withdrawal of that the institution’s directive.
It drew the attention of the university authorities to the most recent circular from the office of the head of service of the federation on 2nd July, on measures to guide against further spread of the COVID-19 virus were highlighted.”
“The said circular expressly directed only officers on GL14 and above and those on essential services to report for duty and that as much as possible all other categories of workers should be encouraged to work from home. We, therefore, wonder why the authorities at the Federal University of Technology Owerri would direct all non-teaching staff to resume for work when superior authorities have not given the all-clear sign,” the letter reads in part.