By CHIDI MATTHEW NWACHUKWU

The National Women Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU-NWC) has called for the immediate suspension of the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye, Ekiti State (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fashina, over allegations of sexual harassment brought against him by one of FUOYE?s female lecturers who is also a member of SSANU-NWC.

In a statement signed by the Committee?s National Women Coordinator, Comrade Ijeoma Basil Kalu, and made available to News Express, the Committee is insisting that investigations into the weighty allegations leveled against the VC have lingered for too long, and therefore called for the re-composition of the Council Committee earlier set up to investigate the matter, and the reconstruction of the said Committee which it claims is tilted towards fact-finding rather than an outright resolution of the matter.

?The SSANU National Women Committee expresses dismay and dissatisfaction over the lingering issue of Sexual harassment of one of our own at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina.

?Despite the provocative words used on our member such as ?I like you,? ?I am dying for you,? ?I like your aura,? ?I will disappear and appear? in your room, ?forget you are married woman,? etc. by the Vice-Chancellor who is her boss and mentor at the workplace, she categorically rebuked him and refused his advances, yet he persisted, which is clearly a case of Sexual Harassment.

?This despicable act is not just a gross violation of our member?s dignity and fundamental human rights, but it is also a shameful abuse of power that erodes the moral fabric of our academic institutions and by extension our female members,? read the statement.

The demands made by the Committee are as follows:

?The immediate suspension of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, in order to allow for a free and fair investigation of the matter.

?The immediate re-composition of the Council Committee already set up to investigate the matter, and the re-construction of the Committee which is tilted toward fault finding and not resolving the matter.

?The immediate reversal of the suspension of the Branch Chairperson and Secretary, Comrades Ben Faleye and Ayomikun Aluko, who were only acting in the line of their duties.

?The safety and security of our members as they are victims of sexual harassment and intimidation in the workplace.

?And the speedy determination of the matter in a non-prejudiced manner by the Governing Council of the University.?

Lastly, the Committee called on the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that of Ekiti State, and other stakeholders in the various women-oriented groups in the country, to look into the matter and ensure that justice is served appropriately.

?Consequently, we call on the office of the first lady (Federal) and (State), Minister of Education, Minister of Women affairs, Nigeria Labour Congress Women Commissions, the Gender mobile, the ICPC, Stand UP for Women Society, FIDA, and all other appropriate and concerned bodies to dispassionately look into the matter and see that justice is served as appropriate.

Lastly, we stand in full solidarity with our members and all victims of sexual Harassment as we will continue to fight and advocate for a safe and just working environment.

Enough is enough, justice must prevail,? read the statement.

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