Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has come under serious criticisms for proscribing all union activities in Ebonyi state university.
A human rights and civil group, International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative (IS4-PAHRI), which condemned the ‘dictatorial’ action of the governor, said it was an abuse of power and gross violation of credible values aimed at denying the university and its students their rights to benefit from the socio-economic development of the Unions.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by president of the group, Comrade Osmond Ugwu, urging the governor to urgently reverse its decision, and allow the Unions dialogue with the university to resolve their conflicts.
Part of the statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the recent pronouncement made by the Executive Governor of Ebonyi, state, Engr. David Umahi, banning all union activities in Ebonyi State University.
“As an agency established to monitor, defend, protect and promote development, human rights, democracy, good governance and other credible values that have advanced, sustained and promoted integral development, human dignity, life and credible civilisations of the world, we see the action of the governor as a gross and monumental violation of these values in all ramifications as it amounts to abuse of power, violation of some civil and socio-economic rights of workers in the University and denial of the University and the students of their rights and opportunity of benefiting from the unique and unquantifiable contributions of the Unions to the overall development of the University and students.
“The governor as a visitor to the University cannot sit at his office in the Government House and issue such a dictatorial order, such that was last experienced in Nigeria during the dark era of military dictatorship.
“Apart from its implications and consequences on the basic principles of holistic development of the University, Ebonyi state and the nation, fundamental human rights, democracy and good governance, the proscription order is aimed at creating anarchy and disruption of acedemic activities in the school which had already been mesmerized tremendously by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown as no true Labour Union and leaders will stay aloof and watch their existence and interest of their members being threatened.
“In view of the foregoing, IS4PAHRI calls on the Governor of Ebonyi state, Engr. Dave Umahi to withdraw the order banning Unions’ activities in Ebonyi State University without further delay and allow the University Management to freely enter into dialogue with the Unions in the best way to resolve whatever issues that are in conflict in the interest of posterity, peace and stability in the state.
“We also urge the leadership of all the Unions in the University to resist the order of the governor by every weapons of Trade Unionism and social resistance obtainable in every democratic societies in the world. We also call on the Student Union Government and students themselves in the school to work in solidarity with the Labour Unions in the school to maintain and defend independence of Unions and democratic culture and norm in the University, Ebonyi state and the nation atlarge.
“We assure the Unions of our ever solidarity and support in their various fight for what is legitimate for the overall interest of workers, students and the University as an institution.
“We wish to inform the governor that in the event where he hesitates in rescinding of his proscription order, our organisation will be left with no other option than to show solidarity with the workers by mobilizing democratic forces within and outside the country as well as taking litigation options to defend the rights of workers as prescibed and protected by 1999 Constiution, African Charter on Human People’s Rights and various United Nations’ Declarations, Covenants and Conventions.
“We appreciate the governor for approving N500m for the payment of arrears of workers but that should not be used as a bait for taking away their fundamental freedoms.”
