THE labour unions at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, on Wednesday, held a protest against the sack of some of their newly-appointed members by the university’s council.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the unions barricaded the institution’s main entrance and disrupted academic and administrative activities as no staff or students were allowed to enter the institution.
The unions involved in the protest are the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the National Association of Nigeria Students.
Rotimi Olorunisola, chairperson of ASUU, told NAN that some lecturers and non-teaching staff appointed in March 2022 were relieved of their posts by the institution’s council.
He said appeals to the council, inaugurated in August 2022, yielded no results, and the unions have no option but to protest.
According to him, “Our members were appointed in March before the inauguration of the council in August 2022, but the council insisted that the appointees must be sacked.
“The Joint Action Congress (JAC) of the unions deliberated on the issue and decided to embark on the protest following the injustices meted to our members. The protest will continue until the council reverses its decision, ” Olorunisola said.
Efforts by NAN to speak with the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Temi Ologunorisa, over the matter were futile as he did not reply to calls and text messages sent to his phone. (NAN)
