Nationwide strike: ASUU calls on UNN management to suspend 48th convocation ceremonies

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Nigeria Nsukka chapter has called on the authorities of the university to suspend its 48th convocation ceremonies till after the nationwide strike action of the union.

Chairman of ASUU-UNN, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Abada disclosed this after a congress to update members on the ongoing nationwide strike of ASUU on Thursday in Nsukka.

He said the union will write the Vice-chancellor of the institution to suspend the 2018 convocation of the university billed to commence from Monday November 26 to December 2 because of ASUU ongoing nationwide strike else members would boycott the convocation ceremonies.

“One of the resolutions reached in this congress is that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba should suspend the 48th convocation of the university till the ASUU nationwide strike is suspended.

“Failure to do so, academic staff of UNN will boycott all activities lined up for the 48th convocation

” I wonder what the convocation will look like in the absence of lecturers, head of departments, directors and dean of faculties who have the responsibility of presenting graduating students to the university during convocation,” he said.

Abada said the union would sanction any of its members who difies its directive by participating in the convocation.

“ASUU executives in Nsukka zone all supported that the convocation should be cancelled since the ongoing ASUU nationwide strike is total and comprehensive.

“Serious sanction will be placed on any academic staff who participated in that convocation if UNN decides to go ahead with it.

“If some universities in the country can cancel their convocations because of ongoing ASUU nationwide strike, I see no reason why UNN will not do same,” he said.

Abada said the congress was happy with compliance of members in UNN on the ongoing nationwide strike of the union so far and urged members to keep it up.

“The congress is happy that strike in UNN since ASUU strike started has been total and comprehensive.

“It’s this total compliance that has paralysed academic activities in both UNN and University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC)

“The nationwide strike embarked by academic staff of public universities in the country will continue until Federal government meets demands of the union,” he said.