By Abdulwahab Abdulah

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has sent an open letter to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, urging him to use his “good offices and leadership position to ensure the immediate, unconditional and full reinstatement of the eight members of staff of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, (YABATECH) who were sacked as a result of their whistle-blowing activities.”

The organisation wants the minister to “prevail on the Polytechnic Council to reinstate the whistleblowers to their respective assignments in the Polytechnic with all their entitlements paid and their promotions effected as their victimisation is against the spirit of Nigeria’s international human rights and anti-corruption obligations and commitments, including the UN Convention against Corruption, to which Nigeria is a state party.”

The dismissed whistleblowers are: Mr. Olugbenga Ibirogba; Mr. Charles Akharayi; Mr. Ayinde Bamide; Mr. Olusola Dada; Mrs. Gbemisola Dada; Mrs. Temilola Akinwunmi; Mrs. Mopelola Ibitomi; and Mr. Adedeji Basiru.

SERAP, in a letter issued at the weekend and signed by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni also called for the “immediate release and full implementation of the report of the 2015 Investigative Panel headed by Prof Idowu Awopetu.”