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Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma Chapter Strike Bulletin (3)

To: All ASUU Members

Dear Comrades and Compatriots, Our current strike cum struggle occasioned by the failure of the University Administration, and by extension the Edo State government, to meaningfully address matters of habitual non-payment of salaries, check-off dues, and other sundry deductions in the University, has entered its 5th week.

The Union commends all members and their families for the sustained strike/struggle, despite the unpaid salaries, check-off dues, and other sundry deductions. There is nothing concrete to report to members on any new action taken by the concerned authorities to address the demand on why we are on strike. Consequently, upon this, the current strike/struggle continues. Remember that the strike is total, comprehensive, and indefinite. For the umpteenth time, be reminded that our current strike is to save our cooperative societies, welfare associations, and our collective commonwealth from collapse and our families from misery against the plan of University authority.

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Unfortunately enough is the fact that, instead of searching for solution/monies to meet the legitimate demand of the University’s staff unions, the University Administration is busy engaging in fruitless and unnecessary meddlesomeness in the affairs of our Union, ASUU, as indicated by its recent memo of threat which directed the Branch to conduct the election on or before 27th of April, this year. As you are aware, the Union has adequately responded to this University Administration’s attempt to violate ASUU Laws/Constitution and usurp the powers of the Principal Officers of our Union headed by the Comrade President Biodun Ogunyemi.

While we are experiencing unmitigated suffering as a result of unpaid salaries, check-off dues, and other sundry deductions for lack of funds, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ignatius A. Onimawo, has directed the process and payment to himself and the outgoing Registrar of a phony monetized 14 years and 23 years of annual leave allowances respectively. The Union is in shock to hear this and is still trying to fathom the legal bases for this directive on payment of monetized leave benefit that is not accorded our retiring Professors and other colleagues.

The Union views the development as a last-minute rape on the finances of the University by the out-going Administration of Professor Ignatius A. Onimawo. Little wonder that the University Administration is desperate to collect the school fees and other levies from the newly admitted students, whose academic session (2020/2021) will not commence before the exit of the present Professor Ignatius A Onimawo-led University Administration on 11 May, 2021, even after collecting acceptance fees from them.

Members are advised to continue to be wary of some members who are collaborating with the outgoing Vice-Chancellor’s University Administration to frustrate our struggle to secure our unpaid salaries, check-off dues and other sundry deductions.

Some of them are currently occupying unmerited positions, while others are mainly those who are ready to work with or without salaries because of their penchant for forceful sales of textbooks and illegal collection of monies from students. As already indicated in Strike Bulletin 2, we know all of them.

There are also members who are ready to deliver any kind of lecture just to spite the Union. We shall expose them at the right time. Members are all reminded not to participate in teaching, examinations, lectures (valedictory and inaugural inclusive), and meetings of any kind (Council, Senate, College, Faculty, Departmental, etc.) during the ongoing strike action.

The strike as you are aware is total, comprehensive, and indefinite. Consequently, members are strongly advised to boycott the inaugural lecture scheduled for 29th of April, this year. The Union is taking appropriate steps to confront the situation and any member caught in attendance will be sanctioned accordingly.

The Union views the said inaugural lecture as not only an affront to our collective struggle to get our salaries paid but also a further attestation that the University Administration is ready to enslave us. The Union is aware of an illegal emergency College Academic Board (CAB) meeting of the University’s College of Medicine of today, Monday 26th April 2021 by the embattled acting Provost of the University’s College of Medicine to consider 2nd MB results.

The Union will take appropriate steps to confront the result of the illegal meeting in due course. Our current strike is just one because we deserve to be paid our salaries and our voluntary savings in our various welfare associations and cooperative societies. No amount of manipulation, intimidation, and victimization shall make us retract our demand or suspend the ongoing strike without satisfactorily meeting our demand for the payment of our entitlements.

Be informed that the Union has uncovered a surreptitious diabolical ploy by the Vice-Chancellor to convince the State Government to proscribe our Union for embarking on this current legitimate strike to press for the payment of our legitimate earnings/wages. Be rest assured that our Union is monitoring the situation. Members are once again reminded that the only directives valid for ASUU members during this current strike are those issued by the Union’s appropriate organs (EXCO/Branch Strike Coordinating Committee).

The directives of the University Administration and that of Government are not our Union’s directives, therefore any member acting on such directives is engaging in anti-union activity. United We Bargain, Divided We Beg! We Shall Overcome!!

Monday Lewis Igbafen, Ph.D Anthony Aigbogun Aizebioje Coker, Ph.DChairperson, ASUU, AAU, Ekpoma Secretary, ASUU, AAU, Ekpoma For and on behalf of all members of ASUU, AAU, Ekpoma.

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