UNILORIN hails S’Court ruling on sacked lecturers

The management of the University of Ilorin  on Wednesday hailed the Monday’s ruling of the Supreme Court in the suit  between  UNILORIN and 44 of its lecturers who were sacked but later reinstated based on the court’s directive.

The lecturers prayed the  court to compel the UNILORIN to pay them for their sabbaticals.

The court presided over by Justice Mohammed Mahmoud, ruled against the lecturers.

UNILORIN’s  Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, in a statement on Wednesday   said the judgment  had laid the matter to rest.

He  added that the  efforts of the management would now be directed at pursuing its set goal of running a first-class institution.

He added that with the judgment, it was hoped that the lecturers would settle down to their academic activities.

Akogun said, “The ruling is consistent with the university’s argument that the June 12, 2009 judgment of the same court that ordered the reinstatement of the lecturers, was clear and unambiguous. It only covered the payment of their salaries and allowances, conditions which the university has since fully complied with.

“Right from the beginning, the university has always drawn the attention of well-meaning members of the public to the fact that the suit was frivolous and tantamount to abuse of judicial process by the lecturers. The management will continue to build on the progress already recorded by the university, especially its unbroken record of academic stability as well as its top rating among the universities in Nigeria.

“We are very passionate about these records and we intend not only to sustain them but to break more grounds so as to serve the country and humanity better.

“We are however happy that the landmark judgment of the apex court has put to rest all the antics to draw the hand of the University’s clock backwards.

“It is hoped that the lecturers will now settle down to their primary responsibilities of teaching and research and put behind them other distracting activities that will, in the long run, not be in anybody’s interest.