Nigeria’s Federal University Gusau has expelled a Student, Philemon Vasue, For Posting About Lecturers’ Strike On Facebook
Vasue was expelled for making a post on Facebook about the eight months strike embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in 2022.
The management of the Federal University Gusau (FUGUS) has expelled a 400-level student of Political Science of the institution, Iortim Philemon Vasue.
Vasue was expelled for making a post on Facebook about the eight months strike embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in 2022.
Between March and June 2022, Vasue made posts on his Facebook page including one that says, “ASUU has always been of the notion that the Federal Government isn’t funding Federal Varsities; so why would the ASUU allow Accreditation of Federal Varsities to go successfully even as the prerequisites for granting accreditation which is adequate facilities were not in place only for the body (ASUU) to reverse after accreditation has been given to say the FG isn’t funding same varsities they made sure it scared through accreditation.”
He also cited an example where a team from the National University Commission (NUC) came to his school for accreditation and asked a student if the school had Wi-FI (Campus Area Network) and the student said yes even though they had none in the school at the time.
In a press statement released on Wednesday which announced the expulsion of seven students and the rustication of six others for alleged misconduct, FUGUS identified Vasue as one of the expelled students.
The statement signed by the Information Officer of the university and titled ‘FUGUS Expels Seven Students, Rusticated Six For Misconduct’ read, “The Management of Federal University Gusau (FUGUS), Zamfara State has at its 82nd meeting held on 5th July, 2023 considered the report and recommendations forwarded to it by Students’ Disciplinary Committee and expelled seven students and rusticated six for gross misconducts.
“The affected students were proven to have engaged in various offences that contravened the laws and regulations governing the conducts of students in the University.
“The expulsions and rustications were conveyed on 7th July, 2023 by the University’s Ag. Academic Secretary, Malam Mu’awiyya Bello on behalf of the Registrar, Malam Yakubu Audu Anivbassa.
“Below are the names of the affected students: … (list of affected students) NB: The above students were punished for different offences/misconducts – ranging from burglary and stealing, assault, circulation of unverified information via social media and examination malpractice – offences that contravened the provisions of Section A, item (xxv), Page 62; Page 68, item (iv) on Regulations Governing the Conducts of students; and Section L, Page 69 – 73, item (i – xxv) of the Students’ Handbook.”
The statement by the university said Vasue is guilty of “circulation of unverified information via social media”.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, Vasue described his expulsion by the university as “unjust” and “a grave matter that has affected my life and future prospects as a student in Nigeria”.
He lamented suffering for “exercising my fundamental right to express my position on the ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) strike of 2022.”
