Following the announcement made on Friday 15th of March by the Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) directing all its members in all the Universities and inter-University Centres on the commencement of a 7-day warning strike over the withheld four months’ salaries of the members of the unions, the union members across all universities commenced a total and comprehensive warning strike and subsequently locking all gates leaving to their various universities.
READ ALSO: NYSC Representatives Orientate Final Year Students at OAU
In Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, the main campus gate and the Road 7 gate have been locked since Monday between the hours of 06:00 am to 04:00 pm denying access to commuters and paralyzing activities on campus.
While the rain semester resumption for the 2022/2023 was slated for Monday, 18th of March, the current situation has led to paralyzation of activities as all adjoining roads leading to the academics remain locked during official hours. Campus environs look deserted leaving no hope in sight for resumption for the week.
The locking of the University gates not only affects the staff and students of the University but also extends to people whose businesses or work exist on campus as well as primary and secondary school students whose schools are situated within the Obafemi Awolowo University campus.
READ ALSO: OAU Emerges Winner at Annual Senator Kaka Inter-varsity Quiz Competition
In an interview with some students on Monday, they narrated how bad the experience was. Esther, a student of English said she had to trek from campus gate to campus as there was no passage of commercial vehicles in the early hours of Monday. Tolulope from Engineering Physics stated that he was only lucky to get to campus through a pickup truck.
Peter, a medical student who sustained an injury while playing football at the Training Pitch around the Sports Complex on Monday, 18th of March, narrated his bitter experience when he went to the Health Centre for treatment. According to what Peter posted on his official X handle, ‘Let it be on record that yesterday, 18th of March, I dislocated my ankle and l managed to limp to the health centre and these guys wouldn’t even let me in. They said they were on strike and they couldn’t attend to me.’
Further interview with the student revealed that the Health Centre gate was opened and the staff were inside but they sent him away immediately they saw him approaching.
‘They saw that I could not walk and I was in so much pain but all that did not matter to them. They did not even let me in the gate. They sent me away immediately when they saw me approaching. I am of the opinion that essential service providers like the health centre should not be a part of this’ he narrated.
Union Officials Speak
In an interview conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Chairman of SSANU at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr Taiwo Arobadi said that the unions’ action complied with the directive of their national bodies.
The chairman said that all their members in registry, bursary, works, maintenance, security and student affairs have withdrawn their services.
According to the chairman, the federal government had signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in 2009, and a Memoranda of Agreement (MoA) in 2023 over payment of their arrears, but nothing was done to date.
ICYMI: Angola Hall Buttery Shut Down for Hours Over Alleged Hoarding Of Commodities, Exploitation
Mr Arobadi said that if the federal government does the needful today, the strike would be called off, but failure to do so within the stipulated time, the next action would be decided.
“What we are agitating for is that the federal government should pay our four months withheld salaries of members, following the 2022, nationwide strike.
“We see no reason why the government should pay only Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and abandon SSANU, NASU and NAAT,” he stated.
Also, Wole Odewumi, the Chairman, of the Non-Teaching Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, OAU branch, told NAN that the workers complied with the union’s national directive on the strike.
Mr Odewumi said, “no union is superior to another, and since the federal government has paid ASUU, other unions should be paid as well.”
Students’ Union Solidarize With SSANU, NASU
The Great Ife Students’ Union in a Press Release has solidarized with the Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) on the 7-days warning strike embarked upon by the unions over the withheld four months’ salaries of the members of the unions.
According to the release, the Union stated that it was disturbing that their salaries were withheld for 4 months without any credible reason or explanation tendered to that effect.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Tragedy As Lion Kills Veterinary Technologist In OAU
Furthermore, the Students’ Union calls on all authorities concerned to yield to the yearnings of NASU and SSANU members to avoid plunging the University system into another round of crisis. In addition, the Union charged the Federal Government not to pretend as if all is well with the educational sector, and as a matter of urgency restore confidence in Universities and ensure that apparatus are set in place to see that there is no strike action.
Consequently, the Union expect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to quickly work and work and walk the talk over education and demonstrate competency and proactiveness by solving the educational quagmire of the country.
Finally, the Students’ Union calls on the Federal Government to, with immediate effect meet the demands of the staff unions by paying up their outstanding salaries.