There was a mild drama as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State chapter, has asked the students of the institution to ignore the directive of the state government to resume academic activities on Monday.
AMILOADED recalls that the Ondo state government had last week ordered schools at all levels in the state to resume after seven months of being shut due to the outbreak of coronavirus disease in the country.
Speaking with newsmen in Akure last week, the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu directed that all schools in the state should reopen on October 19th, after over six months break following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The Governor who spoke through Prof. Segun Fatusi, the Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Committee on COVID-19, the Governor said that primary, secondary schools and tertiary institutions in the state are to reopen on the same date.
Reacting to the directive in a statement issued on Monday by the Chairman of ASUU in OAUSTECH, Dr Dipo Komolafe, the union said the institution was not safe for resumption due to the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the union. The statement was titled, ‘Resumption of Academic Activities in Tertiary Institutions in Ondo State: ASUU OAUSTECH Position.’
The statement read in part, “The union wishes to inform the general public especially students and parents/guardians of the institution that the university is not in good condition for teaching, learning and community service as ASUU is on a national strike.
“It may be of utmost interest to the public to know that some of the most contentious issues between our union; ASUU and governments (Federal and State) that led to the ongoing strike are shortfall in salary, non-payment of earned academic allowance and inadequate funding of universities. These issues are also seriously ravaging OAUSTECH.
“The union never expected the university administration to comply with this ignominious directive of the government considering the lingering crisis between the union and the government. The crisis rocking the universities of which OAUSTECH is not exempted stems from inadequate funding by the present administration in the state.
“The union also is informing the public that the ASUU strike is still on and anytime the strike is suspended, the union cannot guarantee industrial peace in Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, owing to the above stated local challenges.”
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