Management Will See Us In Flying Colours On Tuesday –NASU OAU

By Adetula David

In reaction to the Circular issued by the management of Obafemi Awolowo University directing members of the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) to resume work on or before next week Tuesday, the Union has said the management will get a desired response very early on Tuesday morning.

Aggrieved by the direction of the university management, the NASU chairman, Comrade Wole Odewunmi has ruled out the possibility of his members resuming back to work on Tuesday if the Management does not accede to their demands. In a telephone chat with our correspondent, Comrade Odewunmi asserts the NASU’s position as situation currently stands.

“Our reaction to it (Circular) will come next week Tuesday by the grace of God as early as possible because we have got the paper and we have prepared our own too.

“There is nothing of such (possibility of compliance to the management’s directive). On Tuesday morning, as early as possible, the University authority will see the NASU in flying colours... They will see us in flying and thick colour.

“I can promise you that on Tuesday morning, in this school, they will know that the NASU is part and parcel of this university.”

Comrade Odewunmi also denied reports that the NASU OAU has written to the Federal Government on the matter. According to him, the Union wants to exhaust all means to get to the desired point.

The NASU Chairman also confirmed their meeting with the Ooni of Ife. He said the meeting with Ooni allowed them to concede power and water supplies for 3 days. Comrade Odewunmi further denied reports credited to the University Public Relations Officer, Mr Biodun Olanrewaju that the Police dismantled their barricade. He said his members never mounted any barricade since they returned from the meeting with Ooni of Ife and as such no barricade was dismantled.

With this, the NASU seems not to have subscribed to the same page with the management yet. The question on the lips of many Great Ife students since the news of resumption date announcement filtered out has been; will lectures really resume on Tuesday when the NASU is yet to be settled? Tuesday is about four (4) days away from now.

OAU Peeps News Agency Says Barka de Sallah

The entire management and team of OAU Peeps News Agency hereby congratulate the entire muslim community on the successful completion of their fast as Ramadan, the holy month, comes to an end.

Barka de Sallah.

OAU Management Berates NASU, Orders Members Back To Work

By Adetula David

The Obafemi Awolowo University authority has described the recent demonstrations by members of the Non Academic Staff Union, NASU over their unpaid 64 months accumulated allowance as ‘total disregard for constituted authority’ and ‘recalcitrant’ and thereby directed them to resume work.

In a Circular signed by the University Registrar, D. O. Awoyemi, the university management has expressed dissatisfaction over the continued demonstrations by the NASU stating that despite several appeals, meetings and entreaties to the Union by the University Management, the Pro-Chancellor of the University, the University Governing Council and the Oni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, the NASU executives have refused to show understanding. The University management has also described their absence from work during their protests as illegal.

Members of the NASU have however been directed in the same Circular to return to their duty posts on or before Tuesday, 21st July, 2015. Failure to comply with this directive, the University authority has vowed to take appropriate disciplinary measures against erring members.

Efforts to reach the Chairman of the NASU, Comrade Odewunmi to know the current position of the NASU proved not too fruitful as he was on the wheel while we called in. We promised to call him back.

It will be recalled that members of the NASU started the agitation for the payment of their 64 months earned allowances since Friday, July 3 thereby disrupting academic, administrative and economic activities within the University community.

Breaking News: OAU Management Announces Resumption Date

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo has announced the resumption date of the 2014/2015 Harmattan mid-semester break. The resumption has been stated for Tuesday, 21st July, 2015.

Male Presence At Alumni Hall During Odd Hour Stirs Controversy

By Dosunmu Deborah

The peace and serenity of yesterday's night was disrupted as a shouting match ensued between two girls who both reside in Block 3 of Alumni Hall. A disgruntled lady was heard chanting the slogan 'Alumni Queens, come out!' at about some minutes past 10:00pm.

The lady (name withheld) said she heard a male voice from the next room at an odd hour which was not supposed to be and she reported to the hall chairperson.

This morning, the lady who reported the matter and the hall chairperson claimed that the accused lady was being rude which the accused denied after all. The accused girl claimed she already admitted her fault but the other girl raised her voice which she did not feel comfortable with. 'I admit that I was wrong but the guy was already leaving. I was looking for a jacket to wear so I could see him off. That was why he was here at 10:02pm." the accused narrated.

As at the time of filing this report, the hall security man (on morning duty) has intervened. He advised them to be well behaved because males were not supposed to be in the hostel by that said hour. He said their major responsibility there was for their security.

Dr. Deji Adejobi Was Shot Dead By Suspected Assassins

The serene atmosphere at Obafemi Awolowo University OAU, Ile-Ife was on Tuesday night shattered as a lecturer in the department of Agricultural Economics of the institution, Dr. Deji Adejobi, was killed by suspected assassins at his residence located at The-Dawn area, near the Ife toll gate in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

According to Adejobi’s gateman (names withheld), who recounted how the incident took place said the assailants trailed the deceased to his house at exactly 10:10 on Tuesday evening and shot him twice after shooting into the air to scare the residents of the community.

Also, one of the children of the late lecturer, Oyin Adejobi, in an emotion laden voice narrated how her father was murdered in cold blood.

“As we finished our evening prayer at 10:05 pm, Daddy drove into the compound. Then I overheard an argument between the gateman and some strange people. I quickly looked from the window and I saw another black car that entered our compound together with Daddy’s car. Our gateman was querying the occupants of the other car but they hit him and ordered him to lie down.

“The men in the black car came out before daddy could alight from his car and one of them shot into the air. Two of them advanced to daddy’s car while others came inside. Grandma started begging those that came inside to spare our lives. Suddenly, we heard gunshot twice from the outside.

“The assailants left at 10:20 and took daddy’s car away. I overheard daddy begging them that they should not take him away. When they left, we thought they took him away and we started praying for the safety of daddy without knowing that he had been killed. When the police came, they saw his lifeless body in the flower”, Oyin explained .

The younger brother of the deceased who is also the Public Relations Officer PPRO for Ogun State Police Command, Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi described the death of his brother as very pathetic.

The Police Public Relation Officer for Osun State Police Command, Mrs Folashade Odoro while confirming the incident said the command has commenced investigation into the matter and assured that the police would fish out the killers.

The Public Relation Officer of OAU, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju also said the death of Dr Adejobi was very unfortunate, adding that the management, staff and students of the university were very sad about the development.

Olanrewaju regretted that it was unfortunate that university lecturers have become the target of kidnappers, armed robbers and assassins. He warned that the trend is dangerous for education system in the country.

Source: VANGUARD

Management Yet To Receive NASU’s Earned Allowances From FG –OAU PRO

By Akinola Kehinde and Durodola Abiola

In the heat of the ongoing NASU’s demonstration in Obafemi Awolowo University over the nonpayment of her members’ 64 months earned allowances, different allegations have been raised including that the school management has received the money meant for that purpose from the Federal Government but has refused to pay.

During an interview by OAU Olofofo, the University Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju has denied the reports that the school management has received the earned allowances meant for NASU members but refuses to pay.

“Well, the NASU protest, by virtue of what the constitution says, every union, every society, every organization has the right to protest. But the basis of that protest must be genuine and objective. NASU claims that the federal government has paid the money to pay annual allowances. But to the best of my knowledge, with apology to the NASU, the federal government has not paid a dime to the school administration.

“Let me add that the annual allowances are not peculiar to OAU. The non-payment of these allowances is not peculiar to OAU. All federal universities have not been paid these allowances. If you go to federal university, Akure, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, University or Benin, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Ilorin. All of them have not been paid these annual allowances. But you know, OAU believes in militancy and thinking that we are the champion of the masses, but the management says that by the moment the federal government pays their money, the university authority would begin implementation immediately.

The University PRO further claims that NASU’s earned allowances have accumulated over 64 months but said the management does not have the financial muscle to pay them independently.

“Nobody is disputing that (64 months allowances accumulation). If you put that money together, the university cannot have means of paying it. It is the federal government that entered into agreement with them. It is the federal government that entered into agreement with NASU, SSANU, NAAT and ASUU. And it is the same federal government that can give the financial backing to the terms of agreement. You will agree with me that they are not fighting the university management per say, they are fighting that the university management should find way of paying this annual allowances. Not that the federal government has paid this money but they are telling the university management to find way and means of paying this money to them. And we say no, no. All of us will get this money including the Vice Chancellor but what are saying in essence is that, it is the federal government that has financial muscle that could give kits to what they are demanding for. And basically speaking, if you want the federal government to pay this money, I am of the opinion that they should have directed this energy to Abuja and not OAU.

Also speaking on the current break the students have been mandated to proceed on, Mr Olanrewaju said that the school was not closed rather, a mid-term break was given. He further stated that the university management will recall the students once it considers it appropriate.

“We never close the university. We told you that we gave you 'mid-semester break... I have issued this mid-semester break circular for more than four times since I have assumed the duty of PRO of the university. So, for most of you who are in part one, two or three here, you will say in your set, we have never heard of 'mid-semester break'. Now, if you graduate and leave the school and another set comes in, part one, two or three. If there is scenario that would make us to ask them to go on a mid-semester break, they would be claiming what you are claiming. So, nobody can link us to the history among all of you here, nobody. So, more than two or three times, I have issued it myself. So we have done it on several occasions not once, not twice. So, I am in the better position to tell you and not you to tell me. For you not to have had it doesn't mean that it has never happened on this campus. During Prof. Fabode era, the immediate past Vice Chancellor, we did it twice. During Prof. Makanjuola era, we did it once. So, what are you saying?” the PRO said.