By Lola Omowaye & Bukola Olamona
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Universities in Ondo State have continued to complying with the directives of Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) to embark on the ongoing national strike as academic activities have remained paralysed.
Speaking with The Hope ASUU chairman, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Dr. Bola Oniya described the level of compliance with the directives as total, saying it has completely halted academic activities in the university.
Oniya stated that :’ FUTA is complying with the ASUU’s directive on the strike one hundred percent. We are not in session now and of course the strike is affecting the school activities.
‘We normally have meetings, seminars or symposium, but none is going on for now . FUTA is on strike. We have declared it in compliance with national directives and activities on campus are grounded until strike is called off or suspend by the national body.’
The chairman of Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko (AAUA) chapter of ASUU, Dr, Sola Fayose confirmed to The Hope in a telephone chat that members of the institution have been directed to join the strike in line with the directive of the national body.
In his words :’ AAUA is complying with the directives of ASUU national body. After the strike was announced, we are to embark on strike and we at AAUA met the following day and we are in full compliance.’
When asked whether the strike has crippled activities on campus and if it will affect the students exams, he said:’ of course it will affect school activities and the exams since we are on strike’. he concluded.
However, according to a highly placed source in the University: ‘Exams are still going on as scheduled. Things are still running as they should. I can not speak for ASUU but things are still running smoothly ‘
It would be recalled that member of ASUU across the country were called for by its National President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi to embark on the national strike that commenced on November, 5.
ASUU attributed the strike to the delay in the implementation of the agreement reached by the federal government and the union in 2017, including the completion of the renegotiation collectively reached in 2009.
On the statement credited to the Minister of Education, Mr. Adamu Adamu that the previous administration made bogus pledges to ASUU which is unrealistic with the present situation, the chairman said government is a continuous process and asked if the memorandum of action the Union had with the present government in 2017 has been fulfilled.
The ASUU president hinged the strikes on what he called the federal government’s failure to implement the Memorandum of Action it signed with ASUU.