From Kayemo News
The management of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere, Ekiti
and the three staff unions in the university including the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non- Academic Staff Union of Educational and Research Institutes, have engaged in war of words over the proscription of the unions.
While the university management said that the step was taken to stem the unions’ activities which were inimical to peace, progress and development, the unions it lies outside the power of the University to proscribe a lawfully registered trade union and to attempt to appropriate the properties of the said union as property of the University.
BOUESTI spokesman, Mr Temitope Akinbisoye, who was reacting to reports of a looming industrial crisis in the institution over proscription of staff unions, said that the unions were proscribed on August 4, 2022, on the orders of the state government.
Akinbisoye explained that the proscription followed the assault on the Vice-Chancellor and the Bursar of the institution by some leaders of the unions after the government reviewed the appointments of the former Registrar and the University librarian.
He stated that the school’s counsel had responded to a letter from SSANU’s legal representatives recently alleging illegal proscription, confiscation of union’s property, among others.
BOUESTI clarified it directed that the proscribed unions’ vehicles be parked at the university’s vehicle pool for safety following complaints by staff that a few individuals had converted the vehicles to personal use, claiming to be working for non-existing unions.
The spokesperson however said that the university’s doors were open for discussions, advising the national leadership of SSANU to ensure that virile, visionary and cerebral members mount the saddle of the association in BOUESTI as soon as the embargo on union activities is lifted.
Already, SSANU, has written to the Ekiti State Governor and the Chancellor of the university, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, for there intervention to avoid anything that could disrupt academic calendar of the institution.
SSANU, via a letter by its lawyers from the law firm of Jiworoblaw Solicitors to the Pro Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, BOUEST, Ikere-Ekiti, noted that every efforts made to resolve any differences between the union and the institution’s management has yielded no positive results as the authorities have remained adamant in prescribing the staff union.
A letter from SSANU’s lawyers, titled, “Re: Proscription of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti,” signed by Wofai J. Robert, said while the University may possess the authority to carry out disciplinary actions against any of its erring staff members, or report unlawful or criminal conducts to law enforcement agencies for appropriate action, it lies outside the power of the University to proscribe a lawfully registered trade union and to attempt to appropriate the properties of the said union as property of the University.
