By Dayo Johnson

Akure—THE authorities of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State weekend explained the rationale behind the sack of 45 teachers of its Primary school.

Staff of the University last week protested over the sack of the teachers and asked the government to reverse it.

This was contained in a statement  signed by the institution spokesman, Adegbenro Adebanjo, in Akure weekend entitled “FUTA Position on the Primary school: setting the records straight .

It reads “Following the directive of the Federal Government to the effect that it will no longer be responsible for the funding of staff salaries of Primary Schools affiliated to its institutions/Agencies, the Management of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA recently took steps to ensure the sustenance of its primary school under the new dispensation.

“This step has largely been misconstrued due to deliberate misinformation and distortion of facts by some individuals with ill motive.

“It is has therefore become necessary to set the records straight and put the issues in the right perspective so that the distortion of facts being peddled by certain individuals do not mislead members of the public.

“After a thorough appraisal of the Federal Government Circular which precluded personnel/ teachers of primary school affiliated to Institutions/Agencies from being included in the nominal roll as from January 2016, FUTA Management sought the approval of the Governing Council to make the primary school independent of government funding in order to ensure that it is in a position to pay the salaries of Teachers and the personnel  in its employ whose payment the  Federal Government will stop from 31stDecember, 2015.

“The steps will also include the establishment of a board to run its affairs just like that of the University Secondary School, a mechanism for its self-funding and fashioning ways to ensure that it is in a position to pay its staff who will cease to be on the nominal roll of the Federal Government from December 31, 2015

“In the light of the foregoing,an advertisement was placed calling on interested applicants including staff of the primary school, who will be disengaged from January 1, 2016, to apply in order for the new board to exercise control over the recruitment of staff and other related matters.

“The affected staff who might be interested were free to apply while those who are not interested in being part of the new dispensation will be allowed to pursue their new interests without let or hindrance.

“The ongoing restructuring of the primary school are not taken, the teachers/staff and pupils will be stranded from January 2016 when government will no longer be responsible for the payment of their salaries.

“The University therefore appeals to the general public to be wary of deliberate distortion of facts by some individuals to cast aspersion on the Management which is only ensuring that the Primary School continues to function for the benefits of its pupils, staff and other stakeholders. Signed Federal University of Technology Akure.”

The staffs under the auspices of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities said the affected staffs had already received their letter of dismissal and vowed to resist the development.

Speaking the chairman of the association in FUTA, Mr Benedict Chukwudi also disclosed that members of SSANU nationwide would begin an indefinite strike if the federal government failed to withdraw its circulars that sacked its over 2000 members.

Chukwudi said the government was wrong by the sack despite the fact that a case filed in the court to challenge the action was still pending.

He also accused the management of FUTA of spear-heading the battle, saying: “It is only FUTA among all the federal institutions that have issued sacked letters to its affected workers.”