Updates: OAU protest continues
…New VC may not resume
…FG urged to intervene in crisis
Workers of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, under the aegis of Non-Academic Staff Union and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, on Thursday continued their protest.
They organised a protest on Thursday to mark the exit of the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, who will complete his tenure today.
On Wednesday, they protested non-payment of their allowances and alleged imposition of a newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of the univesrity, Prof. Ayobami Salami, which they claimed was illegal because of alleged manipulation of the process that produced him.
The members of the university staff unions had embarked on continuous protest and strike action since June 6.
They noted that the protest and strike action were to enable the university authorities accede to their demands.
The protesters, who carried a mock coffin of Omole round the university campus, were singing unprintable songs against the outgoing the former vice chancellor, describing his tenure as “oppressive and corrupt.”
Putting on white dresses, the protesters said their choice of white attire was to show that they were not mourning but rejoicing the exit of Omole.
Meanwhile the vice chancellor, Prof. Salami, may not resume office today as scheduled because of the protests.
The OAU SSANU chairman, Comrade Ademola Oketunde, appealed to President Muhammed Buhari to intervene in the crisis bedeviling the university for peace to reign.
He implored the federal government to investigate alleged injustice in the university during the tenure of Omole.
Oketunde said: “We are full of joy that after being in bondage over the past five-year, Omole is going. We have to celebrate his exit and pray no to have a VC like him again. We have lost confidence in both the University management and even the Governing Council.
“We call on President Muhammed Buhari to intervene by appointing an acting VC. The FG should set up an investigative panel that is not biased and also extend the war against corruption to OAU.”
He faulted the decision of the university management to shut the institution indefinitely, saying, “Shutting down the university shows that the school management is guilty of our allegations. It shows that they have done a wrong thing.”
Also, the OAU NASU chairman, Comrade Wole Odewunmi, insisted that the union would not dialogue on matters relating to appointment of the new VC.
According to him, “The appointment of Salami is not accepted by my union. We want the university authorities to follow due process and not bring in someone through the back doors. The FG should come in right now and appoint an acting VC for OAU in other for peace to reign.”
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