The Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture (ASUCA) has announced a three-day warning strike over the controversial appointment of Prof. Jeremiah Atumgwu, a university professor, as Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday in Jos, Plateau State, ASUCA National President Williams Manggoel said the strike will hold from Monday to Wednesday next week. This action follows the expiry of a 21-day notice the union had earlier given to express their concerns.
Manggoel explained that the union opposes Atumgwu’s appointment because it violates the advertised conditions for the role. According to the advert, only staff at the level of Assistant Director, Associate Professor, or Principal Lecturer from National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs) were eligible.
He said, “The appointment of university professors as Provosts or CEOs in Colleges of Agriculture will cause brain drain, demoralize hardworking academic staff, and discourage career progression within the agricultural colleges.”
ASUCA also raised concerns about a similar advert for the Provost position at the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, which lists Associate Professor as the minimum qualification. The union insists that only qualified staff from FCAs and NARIs should be considered for these positions.
Manggoel warned that appointing university professors unfamiliar with the unique challenges faced by agricultural colleges could destabilize the system. “Bringing university professors into our colleges without understanding our issues risks leaving these institutions in a poor state after personal gains are made,” he added.
He described the advert as “a direct affront and disregard for the autonomy and identity of the agricultural college system,” emphasizing that leadership should come from within the sector to preserve its vision and structure.
The union also criticized delays in releasing updated Schemes of Service (SOS) and Conditions of Service (COS) for federal agricultural colleges. According to ASUCA, the continued use of outdated documents has caused frustration among academic staff.
ASUCA has called on the relevant authorities to withdraw and correct the adverts and to address the issues raised to avoid further unrest in the agricultural education sector.
