Mass retrenchment: Police take over Ekiti varsity, to stop workers’ protest

Armed security operatives on Thursday besieged the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti apparently to forestall further protest from workers over the latest sack of over 600 employees in the institution.

This came barely four days after workers protested and grounded academic and administrative activities at the institution to express their grievances over the mass retrenchment.

It was gathered that the presence of security operatives might be informed by decision of the institution’s organised labour under the aegis of Joint Action Committee to continue pressing home their demands on the reinstatement of sacked workers.

When Nigerian Tribune visited the institution, about 10 vans with no fewer than 100 armed riot policeman were positioned at strategic places within and outside the institution.

However, academic and administrative activities were no affected but there was apprehension within the university community.

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One of the leaders of the Joint Action Committee affected who spoke on anonymity for the fear of retribution, attacked EKSU management for creating unnecessary apprehension by militarizing the institution.

He said no amount of intimidation and harassment will deter the organised labour from protecting the interest of their members, vowing that the unions will resist any attempt by the university management to further humiliate their members.

He condemned the decision of the institution Governor Council over the retrenchment of over academic and non-academic staff, describing it as unprogressive and a deliberate attempt to crippled education in Ekiti.

“The management cannot just wake up and dismiss it’s staff as there are laid down rules and regulations for everything in the university system. I must say that the procedure that culminated into the disengagement over 600 workers explicitly violates global industrial practices and was not in tandem with due process.”

When contacted, the institution’s Public Relation Officer, Mr Bode Olofinmuagun said the security operatives were drafted to the institution to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

“There is no cause for alarm. The security operatives were just summoned to maintain security and prevent any situation that could tinker with the institution peaceful ambience,” he said.