Ajasin Varsity Union Members Suspend Four Month Old Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko (AAUA) has suspended its four months old industrial action, the Daily Times learned on Thursday.

Sola Fayose, the Chairman of the Union who disclosed this after he communicated the resolution of the Congress to journalists in Akure said the strike was suspended on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr. Fayose said the strike was suspend base on the willingness of the University Council to implement a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the union.

Daily Times gathered that the union had on the 4th of July 2016 withdrawn their service from the school with the aim of pushing for the payment of the outstanding salary and deduction.

Fayose added that the MoU which was ratified at the Congress meeting of the Union on Wednesday 5th October, 2016, had been signed by the designated signatories appointed to represent the two parties.

“The Congress of ASUU-AAUA met today, 11th October, 2016, to discuss the outcome of the signing of the MoU between the University Administration/Council of Adekunke Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunke Ajasin University Chapter.

“Arising from this, the Congress resolved to immediate suspend the withdrawal of service action by ASUU-AAUA that was commenced on 4th July, 2016, with the strong belief that the University Administration/Council will religiously abide by the provisions of the MoU, to avoid a resumption of the suspended action” he said.

The part of the resolution read below:

“That the earlier resolution on the appointment of Deans and HODs should be reaffirmed. To this end, Congress condemned the appointment of acting HODs and Deans during the last withdrawal of service action, and further resolved that the appointment of Deans and HODs should be democratized not later than 7 working days after the suspension of the withdrawal of service action.

“That in conformity with the earlier resolution of Congress, the idea of appointing contract staff to academic and directorial offices should be discontinued immediately, to allow tenured academic staff grow on the job and impact positively on the University.

“That in line with the earlier resolutions of the Congress, the University Administration should desist from appointing academic members above 70 years of age.

“Congress noted that the continuous appointment of academics above 70 years is in total disregard to the ASUU/FGN 2009 Agreement and the Ondo State Government existing White Paper and official Gazette. Congress was of the opinion that this disregard must end forthwith.

“That the University Administration should emplace the process for the 2015/2016 promotion exercise, with a view to giving members reasonable enough time to process their documents.

“Congress was also worried about the promotion criterion that requires academic staff to attend an international conference within a promotional year.

“This is in view of the financial difficulties being faced by members, and the inability of the University Administration to guarantee full sponsorship to members.

“Congress, therefore, resolved that the University Administration must continue to ensure full sponsorship of members to attend international conferences, and must be ready to drop this criterion if such sponsorship could no longer be guaranteed.

“Congress was of the opinion that disadvantaging members of the Union based on their inability to attend conferences due to lack of sponsorship must not be encouraged” it read.

However, the union has vowed to use every legal instrument at its disposal to ensure the AAUA management comply with all its stated resolutions for the progress of state institution.

The university has also directed the students of the institution to resume on the 17th of October 2016 for the remaining part of the Second Semester 2015/2016 academic session as lectures would commence immediately.

The Register of the institution, Sani Ayeeru, gave the directive through a circular pasted on the university notice board and obtained by the students.