By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Ibadan zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities on Thursday described the resolve of outgoing Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka to conduct 2020 convocation and foundation ceremonies as divisive and mischievous.
The Ibadan Zone condemning the UI VC’s decision also reiterates the position of National leadership of the University teachers association that the ongoing strike is total and comprehensive.
ASUU Ibadan zone comprises the University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osun State University and Kwara State University.
A release issued and signed by the Zonal Coordinator of the Union, Professor Ade Adejumo and other Chairmen of the zone said the stand of the Vice-Chancellor on the convocation was a strategy to create acrimony among the members of the Union at the University of Ibadan.
Other chairmen of the zone that jointly signed the release include Prof Moyosore Ajao (ASUU UNILORIN), Prof Ayoola Akinwole (ASUU, UI), Dr Biodun Olaniran (ASUU, LAUTECH), Dr Femi Abanikanda (ASUU, UNIOSUN), Dr Dauda Adeshola (ASUU, KWASU).
The Zone applauded the principled position of the University of Ibadan branch of ASUU, with its release entitled Boycott of UI 2020 Convocation and 72nd Foundation Day Ceremonies.
The Ibadan Zone of ASUU stated that, as a united body, the members are currently struggling to reposition and revitalise the public universities in order to make them competitive universally.
Professor Adejumo maintained that the Vice-Chancellor did not ask for a waiver to be granted from the Union to conduct the convocation implying that the outgoing Vice-Chancellor was aiming at breaking the strike.
The state read in part “In the spirit of the current ASUU strike, holding convocation ceremonies at this time would be a violation of the principle of the ongoing strike as we consider that such a move can only at best compromise the few gains of the current struggle to rescue public university education in Nigeria.
“The zone is equally persuaded that there was no request for a waiver for such to take place in the University of Ibadan and none were requested by the University of Ibadan Administration.
“No waiver has been granted for any convocation ceremony during the ongoing strike action. The decision of UI Vice Chancellor to conduct the Convocation at this period is mischievous, obnoxious and divisive. It is calculated to create confusion and acrimony among the members of the Union in UI.
“The VC is poised to break the strike in order to promote his selfish and personal interest since he has just a few weeks to leave office.
“There shall be no teaching, meetings including inaugurals, graduations and public lectures.”
“The Zone calls on the Visitor – President Muhammadu Buhari, the Honourable Minister of Education, Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Council of the University of Ibadan, stakeholders, other well-meaning Nigerians and the general public to prevail on the UI VC to desist from this self-serving venture.
“The Zone will pay an especial attention to all branches during this strike period, but we are glad to inform our Congress at the University of Ibadan that colleagues are equally fully complying nationwide, and in that sense adhering to the time-tested dictum that great scholarship is the product of strong ethical and moral choices.
“We cannot afford to tinker with that honour of public good and we cannot afford to fall for the cheap bait of those who might wish destroy Nigeria’s public university education, divide and weaken the solidarity of true scholarship by trying to pitch us against our students in whose interest we are serving and now denying ourselves just to secure decent learning environment, classrooms, functional laboratories, work studios.
“All ASUU members in UI are therefore put on notice to shun the 2020 Convocation as it is designed to break the resolve of all academics to bring a new lease of life to the university system in Nigeria.”
