The early morning of July 1, 2015 was a memorable day in the University of Ibadan, as the Non- Academic Staff union, NASU, took their grievances to the street of University of Ibadan, due to the Non- implementation of allowances signed in 2009. The protest which eventually led to a Three- day warning strike had its effect on students of the university. In light of this strike, a lot of false information has entered into our ears. We only need the right information so we can pass to the generality of students. We went to the office of the General Secretary, of NASU UI, Comrade Samson A. Olakanbi, in search of the truth.
During their protest on Wednesday, rumours had it that students were chased out of their classes. But it was a surprise when the General Secretary to the union said there was nothing of such as they tried all their possible means to ensure that the protest was a peaceful one. He gave an instance where some students in the department of Nursing started running away when they saw them coming but they had to call them back to class saying they were not after them. He also mentioned that they cannot deny the fact that some people might want to constitute nuisance out of the protest, but they were able to control it to its minimum. He also said he was surprised when he heard that as he was part of those leading the protest and nothing of such happened. He concluded by saying, maybe some ASSUU member just cooked up the rumour sent it out. For us to achieve fairness we walked up to a student in Nursing and he said he did not witness any form of chase by NASU members. Reports also have it that lectures held in faculties like Law and Social sciences without any disruption from NASU.
As many people have craved to know why the union has chosen to go off work few weeks to students’ examination, our team also showed interest in knowing why they choose now and not few weeks back when we went for a two weeks break. Still with the Comrade, he said, it is quite unfortunate that their own strike was just a mere coincidence and they are very sorry for any defect it might have caused. In a blink of knowing more about the issue why weeks before exam is the best time, the general secretary also never hesitated to make us know. In his words, “what we are fighting for is the implementation of our earned allowance which was signed by the federal government in 2009. And since then, series of meeting have been held with the management bearing in mind that it may take federal government days to implement this policy. We started agitating for the implementation of the policy in 2010. Series of letters, congress, meeting and all of that happened again. In 2013, our efforts in making sure that this policy is implemented wax higher as the federal government and the then Senate President said the University management should start the implementation fully by paying the allowances, which in turn implies that they have paid them. But the management keeps saying they don’t have the money yet. We reasoned along with them and early this year, we were promised that the implantation will start soon. By June 2nd, we had a congress where the principal officers including the Vice- chancellor came to address us and assured us that they will start paying the allowance when they receive their June salaries. But to our surprise, the policy was not implemented. So we had no choice than to show our grievances to the world because we are being patient enough. I would like to say that this policy has already be implemented at the state level”. “So you see we never planned our protest targeting students exam and we are very sorry for any effect it might have on students, he reiterated.
The union secretary has claimed that they never intended the strike at affecting the students, but it was so obvious that all the classes in Faculty of Arts were locked, the porters in female halls of residence left their post leaving the student to become porter overnight, also, the Botanical gate was locked. And yet they claimed that they did not aim the strike at the students. “That’s why it is a strike” he said. That is the only thing we could have done to show the management that we mean business. Since we have tried all the simple and appealing way and it did not work out we have to try another means, which is strike. Although, some UITES claimed that the strike would make them have enough time to prepare for exam but there fear is that the strike should not extend more than 3 days. While some were of the opinion that the strike should not have happened at all.
We would not want to leave the General Secretary office without knowing the outcome of their protest which later turned strike. We asked him about the result of their protest cum strike, he replied: the protest was a successful one as it was peaceful and the management responded to us immediately. To be fair on part of the management, they swift into action almost immediately. He furthered, we could recall that everything was on its climax as at Wednesday, but everything mellowed thereafter. Some bold steps have been taken by the management to ensure the payment and these steps are commendable ones he said.
The truth about NASU protest which gave birth to strike is being revealed since the inception of this write up, and we expect UITEs to debunk any false information that might be spreading concerning the NASU strike has we have done justice to revealing the truth about the matter. The truth has been revealed on rumours like chasing students out of classes by NASU members as nobody was chased away from class. Also the truth about the union targeting exam time before they went on a protest has been revealed has it was just a mere coincidence. Let us all know the truth and the truth should set us free because conscience is an open wound only the truth can heal it.
REGARDS,
UCJUI
INVESTIGATION CREDITS: PEN BOY, RED PRIEST AND IFEANYI
