EBSU: Nigerian University Sacks 63 Lecturers

EBSU: Nigerian University Sacks 63 Lecturers

The management of Ebonyi State University (EBSU) on Thursday, December 6, said it has sacked 63 lecturers for various offences including sexual harassment, alleged certificate forgery and extortion, among others.

Their dismissal was confirmed by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Patrick Itumo.

While some of those sacked were lecturers who had overstayed, Itumo said most of them reportedly obtained the West African School Certificate Examination (WASC) before the First School Leaving Certificate.

They were said to have falsified their birth certificates and other credentials.

“As I speak to you, only 63 staff were disengaged. Some of them have age discrepancies in their records. Some obtained doubtful First School Leaving Certificates; some obtained their WAEC before their First School Leaving Certificates,” he said.

On the alleged sex-for-mark scandal, he admitted that two lecturers had been relieved of their appointments.

He continued: “Recently, the university dismissed some lecturers; one lecturer was from the Department of History and International Relations (HIR); he was dismissed for sexual harassment and extortion.

“Dr (name withheld) was attachéd to the Faculty of Education; he too was dismissed for sexual harassment. I think these two suffice for now. But others are being investigated.

“I wouldn’t give the record because it is committee matters. The members are currently working in line with their mandate; we will not pry into their activities until they come up with their report.”

The spokesman said their sack followed audit report submitted by a committee set up to verify workers’ credentials.

Itumo urged students, who have suffered sexual harassment, to report the incident to the school authority, adding that the management would protect such students from victimisation.