The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) has denied reports of an altercation between its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Laminu Mele, and the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). According to the university's Public Relations Officer, Amina Abdullahi, the reports circulating on social media are "malicious, baseless, and entirely fabricated." The reports claimed that the altercation occurred during a meeting over alleged unpaid Consolidated Non-Tertiary Academic Allowance (CONTAA) entitlements.
The denial was made in a statement released on Friday in Maiduguri, the state capital. Abdullahi stated that the university's management was aware of a defamatory post on a Facebook page named Non-Teaching Staff of Nigeria FTI. The post claimed that the Vice-Chancellor ordered security to remove the SSANU chairman from a conference room over the alleged unpaid entitlements. The university's management described the report as "completely untrue, unfounded, and a mere figment of the publisher's imagination."
Abdullahi emphasized that the present UNIMAID administration maintains a cordial and open-door relationship with all staff unions, including SSANU. She stated that issues regarding staff welfare and entitlements are handled through established administrative channels, characterized by mutual respect and dialogue. The university's management urged all staff, students, stakeholders, and the public to disregard the fake news.
The university's management also warned the administrators of the Non-Teaching Staff of Nigeria FTI Facebook page and other purveyors of misinformation to desist from spreading unverified and defamatory content. The university will not hesitate to take necessary legal and disciplinary actions against anyone found culpable of attempting to breach the peace of the institution.
According to Abdullahi, the university remains committed to the welfare of its staff and the maintenance of a peaceful academic and administrative environment. The management is taking steps to ensure that the university's staff and students are not affected by the misinformation.
The incident highlights the need for fact-checking and verification of information before sharing on social media. The university's management has taken a proactive approach to address the rumors and maintain peace on campus. The Vice-Chancellor and SSANU chairman have not made public comments on the issue.
The university's denial of the altercation has helped to calm tensions on campus. The management's swift response has ensured that the university's staff and students are not unduly affected by the rumors. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information before sharing it on social media.
Key points
- The University of Maiduguri has denied reports of an altercation between its Vice-Chancellor and the SSANU chairman over unpaid allowances.
- The university's management has described the reports as "malicious, baseless, and entirely fabricated."
- The university remains committed to the welfare of its staff and the maintenance of a peaceful academic and administrative environment.
