ABU queries lecturer over refusal to reveal dismissal by former employer
The management of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU Zaria, has requested Waziri Isa Adam, a lecturer in the institution’s Department of Mass Communication, to explain why he left the service of New Nigerian Newspapers before joining the university as an academic staff.
The university’s decision to inquire about his job status at the once-famous and important Kaduna-based newspaper before hiring him came after it learned that he had been fired from the company.
A letter to him seeking for his job status at New Nigerian Newspapers pointed out that there was no disclosure on his employment details at the prior place of work when he applied for employment in the University.
The letter, “Re:-Inquiry on your Employment with the New Nigerian Newspapers Limited”, was copied to the Vice-Chancellor and Head of the Department of Mass Communication.
Mr Adam, who joined the services of Ahmadu Bello University as a full-time staff on February 20, 2006, is an Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication.
The letter dated Monday, June 10, 2024 and signed by Dalhatu Salihu on behalf of the Registrar of the institution, Rabiu Samaila, was a reminder to the earlier one written to him on May 11, 2023, which he allegedly refused to respond to.
“You will recall you were requested to provide details of the circumstances that made you to leave the services of the New Nigerian Newspapers Limited prior to joining the services of the University vide our letter referenced P. 18533 dated 11th May, 2023.
“As indicated in the letter under reference, the inquiry was made against the background of the information available to the University indicating that you were dismissed from the services of the New Nigerian Newspapers Limited which you did not disclose, as required, in your records when you applied for employment.
“You are being put on notice that your failure to respond to the inquiry leaves the University Management with no option other than to take appropriate action on the information available on your past employment records in accordance with the extant rules,” said the letter.
