Sexual Harassment: Varsity women demand FUOYE VC’s sack

In the prepared text read by its National Women Coordinator and Chairperson for the Committee, Comrade Ijeoma Basil Kalu, the women expressed dismay and dissatisfaction on the lingering issue on sexual harassment on one of its own by the Vice Chancellor.

They claimed that their colleague, who is said to be a Deputy Director in Works Department, ‘categorically’ rebuked the VC and refused the alleged persistence advances, which they said “is clearly a case of sexual harassment.”

According to them: “This despicable act is not just a gross violation of our members dignity and fundamental human right but a shameful abuse of power that erodes the moral fabric of our academic institutions and by extension our female members.”

Some other demands made by the SSANU Women Committee include: “The immediate re-composition of the Council Committee already set up to investigate the matter and the re-construction of the Committee’s Terms of Reference which is tilted towards fault finding and not resolving the matter

“The immediate reversal of the suspension of the Branch Chairperson and Secretary Comrade Ben Faleye and Ayomikun Aluko who were only acting in the line of their duties

“The safety and security of our members as they are victims of sexual harassment and intimidation in the work place.”

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“They called for speedy determination of the matter in a non prejudiced manner by the Governing Council of the University.

“We call on the office of the first lady (Federal) and (State), Minister of Education, Minister of Women Affairs, Nigeria Labour Congress Women Commission, 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.

“Lastly, we stand in full solidarity with our members and all other victims of sexual Harassment as we will continue to fight and advocate for a safe and just working environment. Enough is enough justice must prevail.”

But the Vice Chancellor in his reaction said: “This matter has been investigated by the Police and they have given me a clean report that I didn’t commit any offence of sexual harassment . In fact, the lady wrote in her own handwriting to say that there was no sexual harassment, the husband was with her, she was the one that said it not me.

“The Council has already set up a committee in this matter and the committee has invited the two of us, we have faced the committee. So I don’t want to be subjudice in this matter, I don’t want to say more than that because once a committee is in place to investigate, you have to be very careful, you must not talk to bias the committee.”

When contacted on the matter, the Pro Chancellor of the University and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, said that he was waiting for the panel set up to investigate the matter to submit its report

“My position is that we should find a way to resolve this problem.as soon as we are able to take the report of the panel. I am not in the business of making people unhappy or uncomfortable,” he said.