an industrial strike action; the University of Ilorin
chapter is yet to join the fray as lecturers are divided as a result of
alleged threats made by the University authority against those who
participate.
Presently, the lecturers in the country are on strike, protesting an
agreement signed with the federal government four years ago for certain
demands, but two factions of ASUU in UNILORIN are trading blames over
the appropriateness or otherwise for not joining in the struggle.
The university has not been participating in any strike action called
by the national body of the union, for the past eleven years, a
situation attributed to the fallout of the sack of 49 lecturers by the
former Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Shuaib Oba
Abduraheem.
A lecturer of the school, Mr Kayode Afolayan accused the school
authority for cajoling and threatening the lecturers with sack if they
unionize or join strike action under any guise.
He claimed that they were recognised by the national leadership of
the union, adding that efforts are on-going to sensitise the members on
the benefits inherent in belonging to the mainstream of the union.
However, a factional chairman of ASUU, Professor Wahab Egbewole said
that the decision not to participate in any strike action was reached 11
years ago by all members of the chapter.
He added that this was in a bid to ensure the educational stability
of the institution.
He also said that strike actions has brought about a lot of
backwardness to the educational development in the country while urging
the national leadership of ASUU to come out with other means of fighting
for the cause of members instead of incessant strike actions.
He commended his members for earning legally what they worked for
unlike others who would still be paid salaries for the period of the
strike.
However, the chairman of another faction of the association in
UniIlorin, Olohuntoba-oju cited embarrassment from other colleagues in
the country and immorality in collecting from the largesse fought and
won by others.
The situation at UNILORIN presently is calm as most of the classrooms
and halls are under lock and key due to the long vacation of students
who just finished their second semester examination and are expected to
resume by September.
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