The Vice Chancellor and Principal of the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU), Professor Philip John Kanu, Friday 2nd May 2025, commended university lecturers for their peaceful protest against his administration at the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education on Tuesday 29th April 2025 over allegations that he dismissed them from the institution, revealing that he has invited them to a reconciliation meeting.
Addressing staff and pupils of the MMTU at the Great Hall of the Goderich campus in Freetown, he clarified that the staff members were not dismissed but separated due to the institution’s transition from a polytechnic to university status, for which they have been paid their end-of-service benefits and issued with separation letters to reapply for the new university status.
“The letters issued to staff were not termination letters but official notifications of the end of the previous employment framework, paving the way for the new restructured university system,” he underscored.
The polytechnic status ended few years ago and all agreements under that system legally concluded with all staff receiving their severance benefits.
On the demand that the Vice Chancellor and Principal must be dismissed for misuse of office and other allegations, he enlightened that he is qualified and that he was thoroughly interviewed for the position.
At the end of the fruitful discussions, the lecturers pledged that classes would not be disrupted, and that lectures would commence on Monday 5th May 2025 but cautioned that the students themselves must attend classes regularly.
According to the Vice Chancellor and Principal, some of the lecturers misconstrued the letters issued to them for the separation as termination letters and assured them of the best conditions of service after the transition.
He also affirmed that some staff and lecturers hate him for his uncompromising stance against corruption, indiscipline and other vices, that he has no friend in the work place, urged them to be sincere and dedicated to their work as well as create the desired impact intimating that two lecturers are currently studying in China.
He further appealed to them to upgrade themselves if they want to continue working as lecturers, lamenting that since 2018, he has been encouraging them to improve themselves academically.
Professor Kanu appealed to them to celebrate rather than vilify him because he has undertaken a lot of development projects at MMTU, that God Almighty would be the judge and that he has nothing against those who protested against him that he must be sacked.
He informed that a new University Court would soon be constituted to address some of the challenges facing the institution especially the recruitment of new lecturers and other staff, assured that due to the popularity and commitment of the President of the Academic Staff Association (ASA), he would not be dismissed, that he has approved the ASA trip to Kenema and reiterated that he has nothing against anybody.
The Vice Chancellor and Principal also cautioned the lecturers to be very careful with poor students, especially taking money from them, observed that the students are having challenges coming for lectures, the reason he has demanded the hotels from the contractors even when they have not been completed.
The question and answer session climaxed the well-attended meeting.
