The National Women Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU-NWC) has called for the immediate suspension of Professor Abayomi Sunday Fashina, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye, Ekiti (FUOYE), over serious allegations of sexual harassment brought against him by one of the university’s female lecturers. The lecturer, who is also a member of the SSANU-NWC, has accused Fashina of persistent and inappropriate advances.
In a statement signed by Comrade Ijeoma Basil Kalu, the National Women Coordinator, SSANU’s Women Committee expressed their dissatisfaction with the university’s handling of the matter and demanded urgent action to address the allegations, which they believe have been ignored for far too long.
According to the statement, the female lecturer was subjected to persistent inappropriate remarks from Professor Fashina. Despite clearly rebuffing his advances, the lecturer claimed that the Vice Chancellor continued to make unwelcome comments such as, “I like you,” “I am dying for you,” and “I like your aura.” He also allegedly made troubling statements like, “I will disappear and appear in your room,” and even suggested, “Forget you are a married woman.”
The statement went on to describe these actions as a clear case of sexual harassment, stating, “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.”
The SSANU Women Committee further pointed out that the Vice Chancellor’s position of authority in the university made his actions all the more concerning, highlighting the abuse of power inherent in his behaviour.
The National Women Committee of SSANU is calling for several actions to be taken in response to the allegations. Among their demands is the immediate suspension of Professor Fashina, to allow for a fair and thorough investigation of the matter.
“The immediate suspension of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fashina, in order to allow for a free and fair investigation of the matter,” the statement reads. The SSANU Women Committee believes that the suspension would ensure that the investigation is not influenced by the Vice Chancellor’s position or power.
In addition to this, the committee is calling for the re-composition of the Council Committee that was set up to investigate the allegations. They claim that the current committee has shown signs of bias and is focused on fault-finding rather than resolving the issue at hand. The statement calls for a new committee to be formed that will be impartial and focused on uncovering the truth.
Further demands include the reversal of the suspension of two branch leaders, Comrades Ben Faleye and Ayomikun Aluko, who were suspended by the university after acting in line with their duties in the ongoing matter. The SSANU Women Committee has also called for the safety and security of their members who are at risk of sexual harassment and intimidation in their workplaces.
The committee’s final demand is for the speedy and fair determination of the matter by the university’s Governing Council. They are urging the council to take swift action to ensure that justice is served in a non-prejudiced manner.
In addition to calling on FUOYE to take swift action, the SSANU Women Committee is also seeking the intervention of national and state authorities, as well as organisations that advocate for women’s rights.
The committee has urged the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the First Lady of Ekiti State, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Women Affairs, and other relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Women’s Commissions and FIDA (International Federation of Women Lawyers), to look into the matter.
“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,” the committee stated.
