#AAUA ASUUSTRIKE UPDATE: GOVERNOR MEETS WITH ASUU-AAUA EXECUTIVES AS NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUES

The Visitor to the Adekunle Ajasin University and the Executive Governor of Ondo state Dr Olusegun Mimiko yesterday 2nd of August 2016 met with the Executives of ASUU-AAUA and the university administration to discuss a way forward to the present strike action by the union which began on the 4th of July, 2016.

See the report of the meeting below;

The Visitor to Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, invited the University Administration and the executive members of ASUU-AAUA to a meeting today, 2nd August, 2016. The meeting, which was slated for 3.00 PM eventually held between 6.56 and 7.35 PM in the office of the governor due to his busy schedules.

The Vice Chancellor, after indicating that people present were made up of members of University Administration and ASUU-AAUA exco, submitted that the meeting was a fallout of his discussion with the Visitor the previous day. The VC, while acknowledging the national economic challenges the country is grappling with, stated that AAUA Administration had paid salary up to April, deductions up to November, 2015 while the last subvention collected was in November, 2015.
Responding, the Visitor informed the meeting that:

* he requested for the meeting because of the need to take care of negative implications inherent in communication gaps
* he is committed to workers welfare, which he manifested in the past through the payment of 13th month salary, and his unshakable stance on the need to pay workers a living wage
* he made huge releases to AAUA in the past in form of funding
* the government did not deliberately create hardship in the University by withholding subventions
* he is committed to a tertiary institution that is merit driven, and that tertiary education should be accessible to people at the lower wrung of the societal ladder

The Visitor, therefore, pleaded for our understanding, stressing that there is light at the end of the tunnel, based on the fact that the state government would receive, very soon, money being owed it by the Federal Government which would allow the Ondo State Government meet so many of its commitments

The Visitor went further to call on us, the academic community, to join the struggle for the restructuring of the country, i. e. for instance, the review of the revenue allocation formulas to favour the state, as against the huge allocation presently given to the Federal Government.

In summary, the Visitor pleaded that ASUU-AAUA members should go back to work for the institution to get consideration before others in the future, as we would have demonstrated friendship during hard times. He requested that the Chairperson should deploy every tactic to convince members about his presentation and request. He concluded by promising “TO PAY SOMETHING”.

Responding, ASUU-AAUA Chairperson appreciated the Visitor for the meeting, most especially considering the fact that the Visitor did not fulfil his promise to meet with the Union when the former ASUU President visited the Visitor on February 3rd, 2014. He also solicited a meeting with the Visitor in future to address certain matters relating to the University that are beyond the brief of Administration and Council.

The Chairperson made it very clear that the explanation and the request made by the Visitor were not in any way different from those given/made earlier by Administration, which the Congress EXPRESSLY REJECTED, and promised to convey the request of the Visitor to Congress members.

Given the foregoing, ASUU-AAUA exco reviewed the interaction with the Visitor and resolved to relay the outcome to members via available outlets as this meeting even fell short of the request from the Administration that was brought up for discussion at the last Congress meeting.
The leadership of the Union is closely monitoring developments, and will relate with us further depending on how things proceed.
Apparently, we need to be more committed as we hope things would positively shape up soon.
Eternal vigilance is the price for freedom. Kindly be vigilant as we tame any threat to our collective resolve.
United we bargain; divided we beg!
Solidarity forever!

Dr. Sola FAYOSE
Chairperson
For and on behalf of ASUU-AAUA