ASUU President speaks on ‘sextortion’ in universities
NEWS DIGEST – In this Interview with The News Digest’s Olanrewaju Oyedeji, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), President Professor Biodun Ogunyemi spoke about the increasing allegations of Sex for Marks between Students and lecturers and efforts to put a stop to it.
Excerpts below:
The News Digest: Recently, there has been an increase in the Number of Sex for Marks cases across Nigerian Campuses, what is ASUU doing to resolve this issues?
ASUU President: Well, this issue is one we are not joking with at all, we have overtime frowned at any act that involves asking for money or sex in exchange for marks or any illicit act by lecturers.
We have an Ethics committee that investigates issues like this and after investigation comes up with recommendations. There are processes before the recommendations are finally reached by the committee.
When the recommendations are gotten, the National Executive Council would consider it before reading sanctions about it. We are doing a lot with this committee and we are ensuring that cases like this continue to get our attention.
The News Digest: Recently, in Obafemi Awolowo University, we heard of a very popular case between a professor and a student, what is ASUU doing about this case?
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ASUU President: The case of the OAU Professor was not reported to us, it was reported to the public and the University management. That does not mean we are not involved in it, members of the disciplinary committee of these schools are members of ASUU and definitely, that way our input get there.
I am trying to say at the National level. We only act on cases reported to us, you know a lot about this issues when they are officially communicated so we can investigate, not all the allegations are true.
The News Digest: Do you have any working relationship with Schools to partner with them on curbing the rate of demand for Sex and Money?
ASUU President: As I said earlier, we have our members at the local level, each school has its own extant laws and we respect this,however the presence of our members means we are also partners with the University and that is one thing we have continued to do to strengthen relationships and work to end these issues.
The News Digest: What efforts are you putting in to re-orientate lecturers or train them not to fall in as a victim of this blackmail?
ASUU President: Well, we participate at the events when they are organized and participate at orientation programs while we encourage organization of such events in campuses to help our lecturers more.
The News Digest: Thank you for your time.
ASUU President: You are welcome.
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