‘ASUU strike is needless’

The Vice Chancellor of the Adekunle
Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko
(AAUA), Prof Femi Mimiko, has said
authorities of the university were making
efforts that would lead to the end of the
proctrated strike by members of the
Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU).
Prof Mimiko stated this when he received
the participants of Course 22 of the
National Defence Academy (NDA) during
their tour of the university.
When asked why the university joined the
ASUU strike since the institution is funded
by the Ondo State government, Prof
Mimiko responded that before the strike
began, there was no dispute between the
university and its academic staff. But
since members ASUU members in the
institution were bound by the decision of
the national body, he said, it became
necessary for them to join the industrial
action.
"The university was established and
funded by the Ondo State government.
And now, we are on strike to compel the
Federal Government to implement an
agreement that it willingly signed in 2009.
For some of us, it is difficult to understand
why the government has refused to
honour the pact. But ours is more of a
sympathetic strike since we have no
direct relationship with the Federal
Government. Therefore, going on strike
when there is no dispute makes the strike
completely illegal," he said.
He added: "There is no amount of money
that we get at the end of the day for
infrastructural development and our
personal emoluments that will justify the
closure of the entire university system for
four months."
Prof Mimiko stated that closing down
campuses was no longer in vogue in many
countries, urging ASUU to devise new
ways of channeling its demands from the
government.
"The strike is not the solution. We must
be courageous enough to look for an
alternative. I am using this opportunity to
appeal to my colleagues to come back to
work. All of us must do something to get
back to work," he said.
The NDA delegation described
the infrastructural development in the
university as impressive.
The leader of the team, Commodore
Yusuf Isah, said his team was in the state
to undertake a study tour of its
infrastructure to enable
participants realise how the infrastructure
in the state could enhance economic
development.
He said the visit to AAUA was to
understudy the infrastructure and
challenges of the institution.
Prof Mimiko thanked the participants for
considering the institution worthy of their
tour.