The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its members not to participate in the upcoming Convocation ceremony of University of Ibadan reports say. The decision may not be unconnected with the ongoing strike embarked on by the union.
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ASUU in a statement by the Chairman, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, said the position of the union is that holding convocation is a violation of the principle of the ongoing strike. He said the union is constrained to “advise members not to be in attendance or participate in the preparation for and the actualisation of the Convocation and 72nd Foundation Day ceremonies.”
It was gathered that ASUU has also communicated its position via a letter written to the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka.
“The notice for the University of Ibadan 2020 Graduation and 72nd Foundation Day ceremonies came to our attention on November 7. In the spirit of the current ASUU strike, holding graduation ceremonies at this time will be a violation of the principle of the ongoing strike to rescue public university education. To the best of our knowledge, there was no request for a waiver for such to take place in the University of Ibadan” He said.
ASUU has been on strike over their disagreement with the Federal Government on IPPIS and inability of the government to fulfill a hundred and ten Billion naira recapitalization agreement with the union. The leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities has asked Nigerians to hold the Federal Government responsible for the prolonged strike while also urging them to bear with the Union, noting, “ASUU is doing their battle”.
Meanwhile the President of ASUU, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, in a statement Monday morning, explained that the Union has shifted position on some key aspects of the demands to facilitate quick resolution of the crisis wondering why the government has continued to prevaricate.
He said even though steady progress has been made on some of the issues, what has stalled meaningful dialogue was government’s insistence that payment of the withheld salaries and other entitlements of the lecturers would only be effected through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). Students of Nigeria Public own tertiary institutions have been at home for months due to a strike by the union.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
