•••As Members Shun Exercise, Students Fume
| The Daily Crucible | Monday, October 24, 2022
The 7-Day strike action of Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), Federal University of Agriculture,Abeokuta (FUNAAB) flopped woefully on Monday as virtually all members of the Union shunned the exercise
The Union members reported at their various duty posts at the Alabata Permanent Site and the Mini Campus at Mawuko, Opeji also in Abeokuta.
As if this was not enough, the Congress called by the executives of the Union was a smokescreen as it was largely boycotted thus making the meeting unprecedentedly dry and scanty.
The Daily Crucible learnt that Executives of the University Students Union and at the State level solidly stood by the University Management in defiance of the strike.
They also took position at the University main enterance where they issued warnings that any attempt by NASU executives to enforce the strike would be resisted because they were already strike -weary.
NASU in a correspondence signed by its National Assistant Secretary, Damola Adelekun, had intimated the Management of the University of the directive to the local branch of the Union to commence a 7-Day strike beginning from Monday.
The Management of the University in a swift reaction condemned the planned strike describing it as ill - informed and uncalled for because the Union did not follow the stipulated procedure of labour in declaring the action.
However, our correspondent who monitored the strike action in the morning, noted that the exercise was a case of "dead on arrival" as members of the union ignored the strike completely.
They were seen carrying out their official responsibilities at their duty posts in apparent defiance of the strike called by the executives of the Union.
Worst still,they also boycotted the Congress called by their leaders in large number thus making the venue of the meeting conspicuously scanty.
The Executives of the Students Union at the State and branch levels peacefully demonstrated against the strike at the enterance of the University where they converged and carried placards with messages condemning the strike and any attempt by the Exco of NASU to enforce compliance.
Speaking,a NASU member,Mr Ajani Yomibo condemned the strike pointing out that they can never be a party to an exercise selfishly called by two leaders of the Union and their foot soldiers who have already turned the local branch to their private enterprise.
Fielding questions from newsment,the President of FUNAAB Students Union,Com.Seyi Ale wondered why any Union will be calling for strike when the students are just returning from eight months strike.
He pointed out that there are many other ways apart from strike through which NASU can seek redress describing the exercise as anti-students, and inimical to the good work of the Vice Chancellor,the relative peace on campus and development of the University in general.
Corroborating him, the Com Bestman Okejiafor,President, Progressive Students Movement of Nigeria and Com.Segun Elvis, Deputy Senate President, NANS fumed at the strike action called by NASU saying enough is enough.
Executives of NASU FUNAAB Branch could not be reached for comments when contacted as at Press time.
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