ASUU, Universities Battle Over Resumption Date

The striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko chapter, Ondo State and the university authorities are on a collision course over a directive that the students should resume for lectures.Gates to the nation's public universities have been shut in the last 144 days due to trade dispute between ASUU and the Federal GovernmentRegistrar of the state-owned university, R. B. Olotu in a statement in Akure directed the students to resume on Monday, November 25 for the second semester 2012/2013 session.But in a swift reaction, the ASUU Chapter of the university dissociated itself from the purported resumption of academic activities in the university.The Chapter's chairperson, Busuyi Mekusi in a statement asked members to disregard the directive.Mekusi said: "ASUU Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko Branch, wishes to dissociate itself from the purported resumptionof academic activities in the university, as its members are still part of the ongoing national strike by the union."Members should, therefore, disregard any pullto abandon the struggle, and be steadfast until the present position is reviewed by NEC." The union also wants to make it abundantly clear that it would resist every tyrannical propensity to intimidate and harass its members."The Registrar in his statement entitled: 'Resumption for the 2nd semester 2012/2013 session' directed all the students of university to resume."All the students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, are hereby informed that academic activities of the secondsemester of 2012/2013 session truncated as a result of the ASUU national strike are to resumeon Monday, 25th November, 2013 with the continuation of registration on the University portal (http://portal.aaua.edu.ng)."Lectures are to start on Monday, 2nd December, 2013It will be recalled that the Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Femi Mimiko had about a month ago expressed worries over the continued closure of the university by Ondo State.Prof. Mimiko threatened that he would recall the students if the four month old strike action was not suspended.