From Kehinde Adewole
The 32 recently reinstated staff of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) has congratulated Governor, Kayode Fayemi on the Leadership award which would soon be conferred on him by The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in recognition of the policy and institutional reforms initiated by the Dr Fayemi –led government to protect and promote the enjoyment of human rights.
The goodwill message came from the Staff of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti who recently had their disengagement reversed by the Akure Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor Fayemi, Yinka Oyebode, had in a press release said Dr. Fayemi would be garlanded by the NHRC as part of activities lined up for the Commission’s silver jubilee anniversary celebration.
Felicitating with Governor Fayemi, the reinstated staff said: “As law abiding citizens, we the disengaged workers opted to seek redress in a Court of competent jurisdiction in expressing our greiviances on our disengagement on 5th December, 2019 by the Governing Council of the University. This we did based on our belief that Ekiti has a Governor that loves and respects the rule of law, protects and promotes the enjoyment of human rights. Coincidentally, Dr. Fayemi who is the Chairman of The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has recently in an interaction with Ekiti Youths advised that members of staff who seemed not satisfied with the process of the disengagement, as carried out by the University should feel free to approach the court”, the group said.
Speaking further, the 32 Laboratory Technologists said “We look forward and humbly seek that H.E. Dr. J. K. Fayemi in his capacity as the Visitor to the University has a robust discussion with the Council and Management of EKSU in a bid to ensuring that we resume back to our duty posts soonest especially that students would resume back to school any time from now after the protracted ASUU strike”.
Hon. Justice Damulak of Akure Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria has on Tuesday 8th December 2020 declared that the disengagement of the affected workers was unlawful, null, and void and therefore, ordered their reinstatement as their appointments after a written and oral interview in 2016 enjoys statutory flavour.
