By Victor Akinkuolie Ado-Ekiti
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The Management of the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti (EKSU) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are divided over the resumption rumour of academic activities in the institution.
The university had on Monday through a release by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Bode Olofinmuagun, directed its students and staff to resume on May 24, 2022 for academic activities for the continuation of the 2020/2021 academic session.
But, the ASUU in the university distanced itself from the resumption announced by the institution, insisting the lecturers were part of the nationwide strike declared by its national body and were not ready to abandon the cause except the industrial action was suspended.
The Union, in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Dr. Kayode Arogundade and the Secretary, Dr. Olawale Ogunwale directed members to disregard notice of resumption, urging them to comply fully with the ASUU national body directives as against the institution announcement.
The Union said the academic staff were fully on strike in line with the directives of the national body and will not return to class until directed by the ASUU national leadership.
“It is hereby affirmed that ASUU-EKSU branch is in full compliance with national strike that has just been rolled over for the next twelve weeks from 8th May 2022. The instruction handed down by the Vice-Chancellor in a meeting with the committee of Deans, that all academic staff should resume academic activities should be disregarded as it negates our current struggle as a union.
“ASUU EKSU executive members were reliably informed from an impeccable source (name withheld) in EKSG that the visitor to the University has mandated the Vice-Chancellor to re-open the University in the next 24 hours or forfeit his Job.
It added that its executive members have been receiving threat messages from the university’s management and agents of the state government, saying that should anything happen to them they would be held responsible.
ASUU said that the resumption notice of the institution was laced with political intention, urging parents and guardian not to allow their children to be used as political thugs in the forthcoming June 18 governorship poll in the state.
