CALLS ON AUTHORITIES TO MEET DEMANDS OF STRIKING WORKERS’ UNIONS
PRESS STATEMENT
The Education Rights Campaign (ERC) OAU Branch strongly condemns
the decision of the authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to close
the campus following weeks of strikes and protests by workers unions.
The announcement of the closure was made on the 21st of
June 2016 following another round of protests by members of the University’s
chapters of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and
the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU). The workers’ unions, among
other things, are protesting non-payment of over 76 months earned allowance,
nonpayment of over 6 months salaries, and the undemocratic process of the appointment
the next Vice Chancellor.
As far as we are concerned, this is one closure too many. We
consider the decision to close the University ill-advised, unjustifiable and a
calculated attempt to prolong the academic session to the detriment of students
while at the same time avoiding the legitimate demands of the workers unions. We
therefore demand the immediate opening of the University so that stale and
fresh students can resume for academic activities. We also call on the
authorities to immediately meet the demands of the University’s chapters of the
Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian
Universities (SSANU) in order to ensure that normal activities return to the
campus.
On the 21st of June 2016, the management of Obafemi
Awolowo University announced the closure of the institution. The reasons behind
this were not clearly stated. But it will be recalled, that for some weeks back
the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian
Universities (SSANU) had embarked on protest actions to press home their
demands of non-payments of over 76 months earned allowance, nonpayment of over
6 months salaries, and the demand for the democratic process of appointing the
Vice Chancellor. Recall that some months ago NASU embarked on industrial action
on the non-payment of 64 months earned allowance which was later suspended
based on different factors including the intervention of the late Ooni of Ife
Oba Okunade Sijuwade to solve the crisis. The struggle has been intensified by
also incorporating the demand for the democratic process on the appointment of
the Vice Chancellor.
Both NASU and SSANU have also initiated a legal action at the
Federal High Court Osogbo, Osun state to challenge the undemocratic process of
the appointment of the VC. The matter has been adjourned to July 6, 2016. However, we find it condemnable, that despite
the order of the court that the process of appointment should be suspended
pending the verdict, the management undemocratically appointed Prof. Ayobami
Salami-the immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Academics - as the new VC.
This is obviously a contempt of court and we urge the court to do the needful
in punishing the respondents for flouting its orders.
We condemn the management’s archaic method of resolving crisis which
does not meet the requirement of the contemporary era of 21st century
especially in a “democratic” dispensation. Instead, the management should
accede to the demands of the protesting staff unions. Not tackling the root of
the crisis will further aggravate the workers and the students protest against
the highhandedness of the institution which will continue to render the
institution ungovernable. Of course the students will also bear the brunt of
the effect, as presently evidenced in the way parents who are members of the
unions find it hard or even impossible to pay the school fees of the children
and to meet their basic needs. Ironically, the management which always warns the
students to always avoid any action that can lead to the elongation of their
academic session has continued to implement action of elongating their stay by
persistent closure. While we cannot also gloss over the negativity of this
management action, it also bring to the fore the death risk that possibly be
encountered by students traveling up and down under the deplorable state of
Nigerian roads. As evidence, it has presently been reported that two of our
students have been killed in an auto crash along their way home as a result of
the forceful closure of the institution.
We
advise the management to desist from this ineffective tactic of closure of the
institution which in no way solves the fundamental problem. At the same time we
call for the re-opening of the institution for the academic activities to
commence. Management should not continue to destroy the destiny of the students
by this unnecessary elongation of their academic year.
The
ERC joins the workers in solidarity to demand the payment of their earned
allowance, salaries and for the democratic process of the appointment of a new
Vice Chancellor. Historically, it has been proven that only a concerted effort
of both the students and workers can expedite the success of any struggle
against the common enemy which is the university authority.
We
call on the students to join forces with
the protesting unions by also linking the struggle with students demands for
better welfare condition, reversal of the astronomical fee hike of 2014,
reinstatement of the Olawale Owolabi (Ogunruku) who has been on suspension
since 2011, the probe of the out gone Vice Chancellor Bamitale Omole. To ensure
probity and accountability in University administration and avoid the usual
rancor that often attends the appointment of Vice Chancellors, the ERC demands
the democratization of the decision making organs of the university to comprise
the elected representatives of staff and students unions.
Signed
Adabale Olamide Omole
Ibukun
Coordinator Secretary
No comments:
Post a Comment