FUNAAB: NASU Strike Hits Brickwall, As Members Shun Industrial Action, Students Fume
ABEOKUTA – The proposed Seven-Day strike action of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) branch scheduled for Monday flopped woefully as majority of members ignored the call.
The union members were seen at their duty posts either on the main campus or the Mawuko campus for pre-degree students.
The Congress was primarily called to push for the promotion of Mr. Ishaq Odunjo who failed promotion interviews and test in a recently conducted exercise, using the instrumentality of strike by the Union. Mr. Odunjo, former NASU-FUNAAB Chairman is now a national executive.
The Executives of the University Students Union and those at the State level solidly stood by the University Management as demonstrated by their massive presence to give solidarity support.
They warned that the strike will be resisted as it was resisted on Monday, 24th October, 2022. They described the thought of it as inhuman and wicked.
NASU in an earlier correspondence signed by its National Assistant Secretary, Damola Adelekun informed the University Management that it was directing NASU-FUNAAB to go on a 7-day strike to demand the promotion of Mr. Ishaq Odunjo and reversal of a Council decision on a disciplinary matter concerning four of its members. Furthermore, it wanted the University Management to take a decision on a matter already in the Appeal Court in Ibadan
The Management of the University in a swift reaction condemned the planned strike describing it as ill-informed because the Union did not follow the stipulated procedure established in labour laws and University regulations.
Our reporter who monitored the strike action today noted that the exercise was a case of “dead on arrival” as majority of the members of the union ignored the strike completely.
They were joyous celebrations of the achievements of Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor by students and staff as displayed on banners, cardboards and playing of music which they danced to.
Speaking, a NASU member, Mr. Ajani Yomibo condemned the strike pointing out that they can never be a party to an exercise selfishly called by two leaders of the Union and their foot soldiers who have already turned the local branch to their private enterprise.
Fielding questions from newsmen, the President of FUNAAB Students Union, Comrade Seyi Ale wondered why any Union will be calling for strike when the students are just returning from an eight-month strike.
He pointed out that there are many other ways apart from strike through which NASU can seek redress describing the exercise as anti-student and inimical to the good works of the Vice Chancellor, the relative peace on campus and development of the University in general.
Corroborating him, the Comrade Bestman Okejiafor, President, Progressive Students Movement of Nigeria and ComradeSegun Elvis, Deputy Senate President, NANS fumed at the strike action called by NASU saying “enough is enough”
Executives of NASU FUNAAB Branch could not be reached for comments when contacted as at Press time.
