The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the Owerri zone of South East Nigeria has called for the immediate resignation of Prof. Nnenna Oti, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO). ASUU alleges that Prof. Oti is involved in corrupt practices and anti-union activities.
Prof. Oti, who also served as the returning officer for the 2023 Governorship election in Abia State, declared the incumbent governor, Dr. Alex Oti, as the winner.
In a statement read by Coordinator Dennis Aribodor at the ASUU-UNIZIK Secretariat in Awka, the union accused Prof. Oti of engaging in unethical deals. The ASUU Owerri Zone includes members from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State University, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umuahia, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Aribodor and other union members revealed that the ASUU-FUTO Secretariat had been sealed by the chief security officer of the university on the orders of Prof. Oti. They claim that this action caused division among ASUU members at FUTO after her resignation from the union.
ASUU Owerri Zone highlights that Prof. Oti's resignation from ASUU should have been done following proper procedures outlined in the union's constitution. They assert that actions taken since her resignation, including the suspension of former ASUU-FUTO executives, were orchestrated.
Furthermore, the union criticizes directives from the university administration, such as obtaining approval before trips outside the university, as discriminatory and contrary to justice and equity. The union also questions the legitimacy of Prof. Oti's involvement in the appointment of Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as a professor, alleging that the appointment did not adhere to qualification criteria.
ASUU warns Prof. Oti to reconsider her actions and cease harassing the legitimate ASUU FUTO Executive led by Comrade Chinedu Ihejirika.
Prof. Oti gained media attention during the 2023 general election for raising concerns about pressure from higher political authorities to manipulate the outcome of the Abia Governorship poll.