FUOYE tackles SSANU leadership over allegations against varsity

The management of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has described as untrue and malicious the allegations of assault and intimidation by the leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) against the management over the ongoing nationwide strike of the union.

The SSANU and their Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) had on Monday commenced a nationwide seven days industrial action over unpaid four months’ salary.

In FUOYE, it was gathered that the leadership of the staff union on Monday disrupted activities in the university including shutting down the institution gate, where the SSANU chairman, Ben Faleye accused the management of deploying security agents to attack him.

But addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Tuesday, the Vice Chancellor of FUOYE, Professor Sunday Fasina who frowned at the violent actions of the unions, explained that the university management only drafted security agencies to maintain law and order on the campus.

The VC represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Tajudeen Opoola denied the allegations that the VC was stopping staff from joining SSANU, adding that management was committed to ensuring transparency and that financial regulations are followed to protect the integrity of the institutions.

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He noted that while the management was not against the strike action by the unions, he,, however, reiterated that any activities that would lead to crisis within the university would be vehemently resisted.

The VC expressed sadness that the university has lost one of its students due to the activities of the union leaders, adding that the student could not be attended to at the institution clinic on Tuesday morning.

“The student died this morning (Tuesday) because he could not attend the university because of the strike action and activities of the union members. The student died of asthma,” he said.

Condemning the allegations against the VC and the institution by the chairman of SSANU in the Ekiti State University Ado-Ekiti, Temidayo Aguda over threats to members he added that, “the VC did not direct any Security Agent to harass or threaten any member of SSANU and that the security operatives were only available to maintain peace, which they did beautifully.”

According to him, “Any insinuation that the Vice Chancellor is obstructing staff from joining SSANU is baseless and amounts to a deliberate attempt to discredit the university. Equally, the allegation that the Vice Chancellor is assuming absolute authority on union matters and suggesting that he alone can approve SSANU membership are blatant lies.

“The Vice-Chancellor, however, as the Accounting Officer of the University has the responsibility to ensure that financial regulations are followed before any fraction of a staff salary is deducted or applied for any purpose. Management reiterates its firm stance against such unfounded accusations and emphasizes its unwavering commitment to upholding transparency and integrity within the institution.

“In Ekiti here, out of the three universities, FUOYE is the only University OCCUPIED on the directive of Mr Aguda announced on the Radio. The Strike was not observed at all in the other universities.Members of SSANU and NASU in EKSU did not join the strike. Yet a member of staff of EKSU had the temerity to orchestrate crises in FUOYE.”

The VC advised the federal government to address the ongoing strike action by paying the outstanding salaries of staff of federal universities,” to maintain peace on the campus and to preclude avoidable compromise of the already beleaguered academic calendar.”

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE