The Staff of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife may experience a delay in the payment of their June salaries. This was made known in a circular signed by the Registrar of the institution, Mr Dotun Awoyemi. Awoyemi stated that the delay was due to the ongoing industrial action of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) which has he put it, "...made it impossible for relevant staff to gain access to their office."
He however appealed on behalf of the University administration to the University Community for understanding.
Friday, 1 July 2016
ASUU National Opposes Post-UTME Cancellation
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on Wednesday, kicked against the Federal Government’s directive for tertiary institutions to scrap the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, Post-UTME, for admission of candidates for the 2016/2017 academic session, saying the quality of tertiary education in the country could improve if the institutions are allowed to regulate their students admission process.
ASUU President, Comrade Biodun Ogunyemi, said such freedom would enhance the quality of education.
Recall that at a recent joint policy meeting to decide the cut off mark for students seeking admission into the universities, the government announced the scrapping of post-unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME).
The Post UTME is the second stage of screening usually conducted by universities for the final selection of candidates qualified for admission for an academic session.
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu had threatened to sanction any university or tertiary institution found conducting examinations under any guise to admit students.
He further directed tertiary institutions that had collected money from candidates for such purposes to immediately refund it or face appropriate sanctions.
The ASUU boss told NAN that such directive encroached on the autonomy of the institutions.
“I think government should give these institutions the chance to regulate themselves,” he said.
“They should decide for themselves, the process they dim fit to admit their students. The Senate of universities for example, should decide on the process they want to use in selecting candidates.
“We do not think it’s right for government to decide the method of screening of the candidates, indeed, we want to attain some level of sanity and quality in the system.”
The unionist added that government could only come into the process by putting in place the necessary guidelines as part of their oversight functions.
According to him, it may not also be easy for institutions that had already collected money for the conduct of the post-UTME or screening in whatever guise to refund such money.
He added that this was because such money could have been diverted to other purposes.
Ogunyemi noted that most universities were under-funded and therefore, might have used some of the money to attend to urgent needs of the institution.
“Some of the arguments raised in this entire episode is that universities or tertiary institutions were using the conduct of such examination to make money,” he said.
“But the truth is, these institutions are poorly funded. If universities for example are properly funded, will the vice-chancellors be looking for other means of making money?
“In the last seven months, university workers have been receiving incomplete salaries, that is, the disbursement of funds for payment of salaries has always been inadequate.
When situations like this arise, the managements will not be left with any choice than to look inwards and seek means of meeting such needs.
And one of such strategies is by conducting such examination.”
Ogunyemi noted that the state universities were worst hit for many of them had yet to receive subvention in the last one year.
“Actually we in ASUU frown at extortion of any type from students or candidates but the government too should be alive to its responsibilities by providing the enabling environment that will aid teaching, learning and research"
Thursday, 30 June 2016
FG Dissolves OAU Governing Council
The Federal Government of Nigeria has dissolved the current Governing council of the Obafemi Awolowo University.
The Governing Council has been asked to hand over to the Registrar of the University till further notice.
This was announced on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Channel and further
confirmed to OAU Peeps by the NASU OAU Chairman.
The cancellation may not be totally unrelated to the ongoing Protest against emergence of Prof. Salami as new Vice Chancellor of OAU.
The NASU/SSANU members as at tonight have been seen singing victory songs around the University Campus.
NASU, SSANU Reinforce Claim, Call Principal Officers "Cabal Of Rogues"
The Obafemi Awolowo University Senior Staff Association of Nigeria University and the Non-Academic Staff Union Chairmen (Comrade Ademola Oketunde and Comrade Odewumi respectively) has described all principal officers of the Obafemi Awolowo University as Cabal of Rogues. The duo described the Officers as a cabal of rogues for allegedly following illegal processes in the appointment and adoption of the new Vice Chancellor of the University.
The NASU Chairman Comrade Wole Odewunmi stated emphatically, “We do not
want rogues in power, we want human beings”.
The two unions leaders also claimed that the Outgone Vice Chancellor Bamitale Omole hijacked the selection of the search team that gave reports on who will
become the institution VC.
In their words,
” During the selection of the Search team, the Vice Chancellor refused to allow the
Registrar conduct the Election process but he did it himself and included his own persons, we are not against Prof Salami but we need due processes to be followed..."
However, it is also worthy to note that the Registrar of the Institution and Secretary to the Governing Council has stated that due process was followed in the selection of Professor Ayo Salami, the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Institution.
Contradictory statements from both parties have continued to leave other members of the institution and society at large confused as to what and who to believe.
NASU Chairman Asks For Students Support In Ongoing Struggle
The Chairman of Non-Academic Staff Union,OAU Chapter, Comrade Wole Odewumi has pleaded with the students of Obafemi Awolowo University to be patient with them in this struggle. He made his plea also during the OAU ACJ press confrontation organised today, Thursday 30th June 2016 at the University Senate Building.
In his words, "I will like to beg all OAU students to be patient with us to clear this rubbish".
He further assured that smooth academic calendar is also their Paramount concern but the "rubbish", has he described the current situation of things on campus, had to be cleared once and for all especially the illegal appointment of Prof.Ayo Salami as the New Vice chancellor. He further explained if this is not cleared, we all would be blamed and the generations to come would also blame us. He further clamoured for the support of the students so that the ongoing struggle will be fruitful.
"OAU Suspended From NUGA Games"- SSANU Chairman
The Nigeria University Games Association has suspended Obafemi Awolowo University from hosting NUGA Games. This was made known to the public by the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities(SSANU),OAU chapter, Comrade Ademola Oketunde, during the press conference organized by the Association of Campus Journalist, OAU Chapter at the University Senate building today.
He said the suspension was attributed to the misappropriation of funds in the 2014 NUGA games hosted by the last administration. He further explained that this was one of the financial misappropriation claims that trailed the last administration led by Professor Bamitale Omole, the outgone Vice Chancellor.
Public Disclaimer: OAU To Resume On July 10
DISCLAIMER
RE: OAU To Resume July 10
It has just been brought to the notice of the management of OAU Peeps News Agency that a post is being spread with the above headline with an OAU Peeps link underneath the post.
We hereby use this medium to inform the general public that, in as much as we are media patners of GoPoethick 2016 which the link below the headline advertises, the Agency is in no way involved with unfounded resumption claim and we also use this medium to enjoin rumour mongers to desist from this act.
As always, we would convey accurate and precise information on resumption upon announcement.
Thanks and God bless!
Signed
Farombi Oluwaseun [Babafaros]
Public Relations Officer/Social Media Manager
OAU Peeps News Agency
