By Peter Adedoyin
The 7-day warning strike declared by the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) on Monday flopped, as majority of members of the association resumed for duty.
An investigation revealed that members of the association were at their duty posts both on the main campus at Alabata and the mini campus at Mawuko.
It was gathered that the union on Monday called a Congress to push for the promotion of Mr Ishaq Odunjo who failed promotion interviews and tests in a recently conducted exercise, using the instrumentality of striker the Union.
Mr Odunjo, former NASU-FUNAAB Chairman, is now a national executive.
The executives of the University Students' Union and those at the State level solidly stood by the University's management as demonstrated by their massive presence in solidarity.
While promising that the strike will be resisted, they described the planned strike by the union as inhuman and wicked.
"NASU in an earlier correspondence signed by its National Assistant Secretary, Damola Adelekun informed the University management that it was directing NASU-FUNAAB to go on a 7-day strike to demand promotion of Mr Ishaq Odunjo and reversal of a Council decision on a disciplinary matter concerning four of its members".
"Furthermore, it wanted the University to decide on a matter already in the Appeal Court in Ibadan".
"The management of the University in a swift reaction condemned the planned strike, describing it as ill-informed because the Union did not follow the stipulated procedure established in labour laws and University regulations".
Our correspondent who monitored the strike action on Monday noted that the exercise was a case of "dead on arrival" as the majority of the members of the union ignored the strike completely.
There were joyous celebrations of the achievements of Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor by students and staff as displayed on banners, cardboards and playing of music which they danced to.
Speaking, a NASU member, Mr Ajani Yomibo condemned the strike, pointing out that they can never be a party to an exercise selfishly called by two leaders of the Union and their foot soldiers who have already turned into the local branch to their private enterprise.
Fielding questions from newsmen, the President of FUNAAB Students Union, Comrade Seyi Ale wondered why any Union will be calling for a strike when the students are just returning from an eight-month-old strike.
He pointed out that there are many other ways apart from strike through which NASU can seek redress, describing "the exercise as anti-student and inimical to the good works of the Vice Chancellor, the relative peace on campus and development of the University in general".
Corroborating him, Comrade Bestman Okejiafor, President, of the Progressive Students Movement of Nigeria and Comrade Segun Elvis, Deputy Senate President, NANS fumed at the strike action called by NASU saying "enough is enough".
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