Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
The management of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, has debunked claims of opposing the applications of members of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) to join Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
It also denied obstructing the deduction of the said new members dues from their salary, describing the claims as baseless and inflammatory.
This was made known yesterday in a press conference in Ado-Ekiti addressed by the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof Abayomi Fasina represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof Tajudeen Opoola.
He said the SSANU Chairman of Ekiti State University, Mr. Temidayo Aguda in a radio programme alleged that the “VC created obstacles by insisting that approval must be sought from management before a staff could join a union.
The Deputy VC described the claims as, “inaccurate, baseless, and inflammatory”.
While speaking on the approval of staff to join the SSANU, he said the process of membership forms of the new members of SSANU must follow due process.
“Membership is free and the institution can not compel members to join the Union, neither can SSANU compel non-members to follow their instructions,” he stated .
He added that the letter SSANU claimed they wrote seeking the deduction of due from the said new members did not specifically contain call for deduction of dues.
Also, he noted that the SSANU Chairman was not harassed by security officers under the order of the VC as claimed, saying that the VC was not in Ekiti State on Monday, March 18, 2024 which was the day of the alleged harassment.
“The University is created by law and the university has its own autonomy; the law will take its course, and the union will strive. Those who are non members of the unions must not be forced to follow their policies.
“ They are directing everyone, and directing where should be locked. The university is making an effort to ensure that there is no clash between non-union members and the members,” he added.
Speaking on the strike, called by the national body of the union to make the federal government pay withheld 2022 salaries, he said that FUOYE management does not have the authority to pay the outstanding salaries but the federal government.
“The strike commenced yesterday and it was peaceful in many universities in Nigeria. In Ekiti here, out of the three universities, FUOYE is the only university occupied on the directive announced on a 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,” he said.
In this regard, the management called on President Bola Tinubu to approve the payment of the outstanding four months salary in 2022, but however commended the him on the salaries paid so far.
“We condemn the locking of our gate, our gate should not be locked and locking of the gate is not national. It is like a prepared war against FUOYE, we have had enough and our responses will be between the law,” he said.
