State varsity queries lecturer over social media comments

Kaduna State University (KASU), has queried a lecturer with the department of political science, Dr John Danfulani, over comment he made on social media.

The query dated 6 January, 2016 from the office of the registrar and signed by Mrs Talatu A Kuri, the university said the lecturer should explain why disciplinary action will not be taken against him for a comment he posted on the social media tagged, "Our Problems in Nigeria."

The copy of the query as obtained by Pulse.ng, said: "You will explain within 48 hours why disciplinary action will not be taken against you (in line with section 15 of the Kaduna State University Staff Condition of Service) in respect of your gross misconduct demonstrated in the social media article "I," part of the query read.

According to KASU management, "The content of the publication you authored is divisive, injurious to the University and tantamount to hate speech capable of inciting particular group of students against staff and other students. This behaviour is unbecoming of a lecturer who is supposed to mould students' character and impart learning."

Pulse Nigeria also got the response of the lecturer to the query. Danfulani said social media is a generic name for what practitioners and teachers of communications tagged "New Media."

He said: "It is a large world of dozens of platforms, most of which are yet to be in full practice in Nigeria. I have pages that upload my opinions on multifaceted local and international issues when my conscience and spirit direct me to do so. Because of this, I do not know on which of the platforms the piece that generated this query was hoisted because your query did not contain such details," Danfulani said.

According to him, the management did not furnish him with the time and date  that the piece complained of was made.

"All social media uploads do carry the time and date of publication for public consumption. The query before me did not capture such vitals to enable me visit my timeline to authenticate the veracity or otherwise of the allegations contained in the query."

"Your query did not contain the contents and particulars of any of my publications which "is divisive, injurious to the University and tantamount to hate speech capable of inciting particular group of students against staff and other students," Danfulani said.

Part of the response by Danfulani reads: "In the same vein, your query did not contain the contents and particulars of any of my publications which tend to show that my "behaviour is unbecoming of a Lecturer who is supposed to mould students' character and impart learning".

"My Wall, updates and writings in the social media are all in my private capacity and not in my official capacity as a Lecturer with the University. Therefore, to the best of my knowledge and belief, I have not offended section 15 of the Kaduna State University  Staff Conditions of Service or any of the University Laws and Regulations whatsoever. Based on the foregoing, I therefore vehemently deny all the allegations against me contained in your query of 6th January, 2016," he said.

"For the avoidance of doubt, I deny as follows: I did not commit any gross misconduct against the University. I did not offend section 15 of the Kaduna State University  Staff Conditions of Service or any of the University Laws and Regulations. None of the publications authored by me is intended to be divisive, injurious to the University and tantamount to hate speech capable of inciting particular group of students against staff and other students. None of my behaviour, private and official, is unbecoming of a Lecturer who is supposed to mould students' character and impart learning," Danfulani said.