By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Lecturers and students of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Monday morning staged peaceful protest against encroachments into the university's land by the Niger state government.
Nigerian NewsLeader Correspondent learnt that Governor Mohammed Umar Bago had directed the school's management to vacate its Bosso Campus in Minna the state capital, a development that did not go down well with the staff and students of FUT, Minna.
For not following due process by communicating with the relevant federal government agency owing to the fact that the university belongs to the federal government, the lecturers and students mobilized to resist attempts to forcefully takeover the facilities by agents of Niger state government.
Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), FUT, Minna branch, Prof. Luqman Kunle Oyewobi, who spoke on behalf of the protesters said the state government had after issuing a notice of revocation of the lease of the land to the university, moved in last Thursday to begin allocation of the land for new projects.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions; “Bago, leave FUT, Minna Bosso Campus alone,” “Our VC is not a state civil servant, accord him some respect,”, the protesters insisted that the steps taken by the state government was wrong.
Other inscriptions giving red signals to Niger state government to steer clear of the university's land, with repeated anti-state government slogan included; “We will resist every land grabbers”.
Prof. Oyewobi who also hinted that the university still runs some major departments and laboratories which were yet to be moved to its permanent site at Gidan Kwano said some staff still live at the Bosso campus.
Professor Oyewobi who led the protesters also added that many students and staff still reside in the Bosso Campus hostels and staff quarters.
Niger state government led by Governor Mohammed Umar Bago had claimed that FUT, Bosso Campus belongs to the state government, but was merely leased to the University as a temporary take-off facility, a claim that the university described as not only factually incorrect but historically misleading.
The FUT, Minna ASUU leader reaffirmed the union's unwavering commitments to defending the integrity, autonomy, and assets of the citadel, insisting that the union would pursue all lawful and legitimate avenues to ensure that the Bosso Campus remains under the control and ownership of university as established by federal laws.
Also speaking on the issue, the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Jonathan O. Ndagi, described the attempts to forcefully takeover the Bosso campus as not just wrong but a direct affront to academic freedom and an encroachment on the fundamental rights of staff and students to assemble, work, teach, learn, and conduct research in a secure and peaceful environment, the rights guaranteed under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Also responding to the developments, the Vice President Students’ Union Government (SUG) FUT, Minna, Comrade Mfon Joseph Jonah condemned the state government’s move to encroach on the university's facilities.
Mfon said many students residing in the hostels at the Bosso Campus are already living in fear sequel to the vacation order issued by the Governor Bago led administration ordering the university management to vacate the space. NNL
