by Lekan Olanrewaju

The National Union of Non Academic Staff of Universities and Allied Institution (NASU) and National Examinations Council (NECO) chapter on Thursday threatened to remove the Registrar, Promise Okpala from his office.

They delivered an ultimatum, saying that they would throw him out if by Monday his re-appointment wasn’t announced by the Ministry of Education.

In a statement released in Minna, the Chairman of the union in the council, Lawal Rabana, stated that no formal announcement had been made saying that the registrar was to retain that position. He also said the registrar had to leave as he had not impacted the council in any noteworthy manner since he assumed the position 5 years ago.

“Professor Promise Okpala has not added any value to NECO and Nigerian children need someone without credibility question to shape their future, we urge the honourable minister of education to get more involved in NECO’s affairs in order to re-channel it towards the aspirations of its founding fathers.’’

Okpala had previously rejected the unionization move of the NECO staff, and a disagreement had ensued. The row was taken to a tribunal which ruled in favour of the staff, saying: “One of the main purposes of a trade union is to defend the rights of its members wherever it appears to it that the rights of such members are being transgressed upon.”

The tribunal, having carefully considered all the evidences before it and also acted in regards to the principles of equity, made the following awards:

“An order compelling NECO, JAMB and NABTEB to allow NASU unfettered right to unionize the workers of their establishments throughout the federation and an order of perpetual injunction restraining NECO, JAMB and NABTEB from intimidating, threatening or victimizing any of their workers in any manner whatsoever on the grounds that such workers(s) decide to participate or actually participated in trade union activities with NASU”.