Gbenro Adesina
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan (UI) chapter has unequivocally condemned the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) for staging a violent protest on Wednesday October 28, 2020, against the process of the selection of the 13th Vice Chancellor of the Premier University.
ASUU, in a Special Bulletin, dated October 30, 2020 and signed by the Chairperson, Ayoola Akinwole and Secretary, Chris Omorege, declared that it was not part of the protest as being reported in the media, stressing that the Union would henceforth, resist any assault from the non-teaching staff.
It will be recalled that the non academic staff, in hundreds, led by Wale Akinremi, stormed the Senate Building of the institution to disrupt the final stage of the process of electing a new VC for the institution presided over by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Nde Joshua Mutka Waklek.
The group did not only succeed in disrupting the process, it forced the Pro-Chancellor to suspend the process of the selection and announcement of the new VC.
They, however, failed to coerce the Pro-Chancellor to grant their request of disqualifying the current Vice Chancellor, Admin, Professor Kayode Adebowale and former Vice Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, (AAUA
During the protest, it was gathered that the protesting staff stoned Professor Adebowale on the head
The statement of ASUU reads in parts:
“Having observed that a protest was carried out on Wednesday October 28, 2020 around the Senate and Council Chambers of the University by members of the NASU and SSANU in the University of Ibadan.
“The Executive of the branch met of Friday, 30 October 2020, deliberated on the incidence and resolved as follows:
“That members of ASUU-UI were not part of the protest, contrary to reports in some press outlets.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the disruption of the meeting of the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan that was convened to conclude the selection of the next Vice Chancellor of the University.
“That the practice of protesters, assaulting, attempt to assault or outright molestations of members of the Academic Staff Unions of the University, UI Branch, shall henceforth be vehemently resisted.
“Reaffirms our earlier appeal to the Governing Council University of Ibadan that a level playing ground be given in the appointment of the next Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan in order to protect the sanctity of the University autonomy”.
