from the National 21Nov.

"National staff want probe into Unitech
By PETER KORUGL. STRIKING national academics at the University of Technology have decided not to immediately return to classes as ordered by the court, but to ask the governing council today to order an official investigation into the university. National Academic Staff Association president Michael Hasagama yesterday confirmed that his executive was meeting the council today to petition the removal of the current senior management team, appoint a caretaker administration and institute the probe. “We will be asking the council to order the investigation into the mismanagement of the affairs at the university and the misappropriation of the university’s resources,” Mr Hasagama told The National. Mr Hasagama said NASA was fighting for the good of the university and the stakeholders and not for personal gain, as may be assumed by the public. The meeting comes three days after the National Court in Waigani ordered the striking lecturers to return to normal duties. The National Court ordered that NASA members submit the results of the final examinations to the university and attend examination committee meetings and participate in the selection of the students for enrolment for the 2007 academic year. Acting Vice-Chancellor Wilson Tovirika yesterday claimed victory against the striking staff and urged them to return to work. “The university wishes to advise all stakeholders, including the Government, commerce and industry, corporate and private sponsors, parents and students of its obligation to ensure a successful end of 2006 and commencement of the 2007 academic year,” Mr Tovirika said. NASA, however, would not concede defeat; instead it referred the judgment to the Industrial Registrar for a legal opinion. “The national court orders were made last Friday, our members voted to go on strike last Thursday. We have referred the court orders to the Industrial Registrar for legal advice as we understand the affidavit presented by the university in court by its lawyer was altered at the last minute and our lawyer was not given a copy,” Mr Hasagama said. In the secret ballot, conducted by the Electoral Commission last Thursday, the NASA members were asked to vote on 15 issues, the main one being that of mismanagement of the university and misappropriation of its resources by the administration. The members of NASA were also asked to vote on the medical levy imposed on staff, non-remittal of contributions to Nasfund and Unitech Savings and Loans Society, delaying payment of staff entitlements, water levy to staff, hiring and firing of staff, appointment, promotion and appraisal of national academics, acting appointments, training, incentives to retain qualified staff and security for staff. Mr Hasagam said NASA would press for the current senior management to be sidelined, an interim management be put in place and investigation ordered into the university."