Amid increasing concern about the effect of coronavirus on Nigeria’s economy, it has been reported that Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State has sacked over 100 staff of the institution.
According to information gathered, the sacked members of staff got their sack letters through email on Tuesday.
One of the sacked members of staff who pleaded anonymity revealed that the institution blamed the sack on COVID-19 induced economic crisis in Nigeria.
According to the sacked staff, the development has brewed a lot of anxiety, as some members of staff threatened to embark on a protest.
The affected staff said: “How can the university-owned by a church just wake up and lay off such number of staff at this time? Even the government at all levels are struggling to keep their staff and pay them.
“The situation as it is may lead to violence as some affected staffers are insisting on protesting against the decision of the university.”
While responding to the incident, BOWEN University’s Public Relation Officer, Mr Toba Adaramola confirmed the fact that the institution laid off some staff owing to change in the way the activities of the University is being ran.
He said around 8-10% of the staff strength was affected and added that the management of the institution had been pondering on downsizing for sometime.
Adaramola said: “The decision affected those in academics and non-academic staff.
“In August 2018, it was discovered that the university is heading toward inflection point and the management deliberated on the reasons for the inflection.
“It was discovered that change of culture was part of the problem. Hence we embraced technology and so many staffers were no longer needed to perform certain duties.
“Although it is a painful decision but one that is necessary to sustain the university since it is not public institution that can rely on any subvention apart from the fees it charged its students.”
He said that the school had put in place necessary measures to compensate the affected staff.
