OAU Lecturers Divided Over ASUU Strike

• Management Takes Stand

Lecturers in the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife have divided over the ongoing strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

While the union members in the university on Tuesday joined the Nigerian universities’ ASUU indefinite strike, a faction of the union, Congress of Universities Academics (CONUA) has refused to join.

The industrial action which was embarked upon to press home demands of funding for revitalisation of public universities and other issues was announced by OAU ASUU Chairman, Dr. Adeola Egbedookun during the Union’s congress.

While Egbedookun was addressing journalists after the congress on Tuesday, he said, the reason for the Congress was to join the national strike of ASUU, saying, “the outcome of the congress is that we are resolute; we are ready and we have commenced the strike.

“The union hereby urges students and lecturers to vacate the school until the issue is addressed by the government”.

He noted that the strike was meant to compel government to address the demands of the Union on funding, release  of forensic audit report on Earned Academic  Allowance among other things.

Egbedookun noted, ”the strike is total and comprehensive. No teaching, no examination, no attendance at the statutory meetings of any kind. We are demanding the release of PFA operational license to NUPEMCO, provision of a platform by FG for ASUU to engage governors on universities underfunding proliferation”.

In contrary, the chairman of CONUA,  Dr. Niyi Sunmonnu told journalists that the union is not bound by the decision of ASUU.

He noted, “Our members are at their duty post.  We are fully on ground to give students lecture”.

“Since we are not part of the decision that ASUU is demanding for, we can’t be part of the industrial action.

He explained that, “Only the school management can declared that students should go home not the responsibility of ASUU.

He urged members and students to discountenance the decision of ASUU.

Meanwhile, the management of OAU said inspite of the strike, there were no plans to compel students to vacate the campus until the end of the year holidays.

The School Registrar, Margaret Omosule in a circular released on Tuesday asked students not to join the industrial action.

“We wish to assure all students that the University Academic Calendar for the 2017/2018 Academic Session is very much on course.

“There are no plans to compel students to vacate the campus until the end of year holidays and all members of the University community must be unanimous in the resolution to ensure that the Calendar remains sacrosanct.”

Meanwhile, a visits to some classes on Tuesday and Wednesday within the university campus showed that students were receiving lectures.