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All of the staff unions at the Bamidele Olumilua University of Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti, which is owned by the Ekiti State Government, have been banned.
B.S. Momoh, the interim registrar, explained that the measure was required because the unions' actions were detracting from the university's development goal and mission.
Momoh described the affected organisations as Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, and Non Academic Staff Union of Universities in a communication to the university community headed, "Proscription of staff unions in BOUESTI."
“After a review of the incidents and in line with the directive of Ekiti State Governor and Visitor to the university, the three trade unions in BOUESTI – ASUU, SNANU and NASU are hereby proscribed with immediate effect.
“Members of staff are hereby enjoined to go about their normal duties without fear and desist from getting involved in unlawful activities,” Momoh stated.
The SSANU Chairman, G.O. Olowolafe, and his NASU counterpart, Adewale Animasaun, both responded by stating that respective organisations' headquarters had been informed of the situation.
This is completely a union matter, Olowolafe declared. The federal government has registered the union. Only a branch, really. The national headquarters is already aware of the situation. We at the branch level currently lack the authority to comment.
However, Animasaun stated, "At first, I thought it was an internal matter that would be resolved internally. However, when I saw the proscription letter that the management proscribed the union, it was so embarrassing. However, there is nothing we can do where a person believes he has power, so I gave up.
The NASU chairman clarified that employees were not causing a distraction for the university because they "enjoy the school being a new university," in response to a question about whether it was illegal for them to seek promotions and payment of amputated 34 months' salary. We agreed to work for the improvement of the school and are here even though we are meant to be on strike right now.
“In NASU, I cannot do anything without the headquarters. I have sent the report of what happened to NASU headquarters,” he said.
However, Dr. Kayode Arogundade, the ASUU Chairman at Ekiti State University, who is in charge of the academic staff at BOUESTI, asserted, "The academic staff at BOUESTI were not involved in what happened.
“Again, we do not have ASUU in BOUESTI, what we have there is Academic Welfare Association. When eventually we have ASUU there, the university or state government does not have power to proscribe ASUU”.