Olabisi Onabanjo University Recalls 50 Staff Members

No fewer than hundred members of staff, including 50 lecturers, of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago–Iwoye, unjustly relieved of their jobs by the former Governing Council of the institution, were recalled last week by the institution.

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About 825 staffers comprising of teaching and non–teaching staff of the university lost their jobs between 2009 and 2010 in manners the victims and various labour unions in the institution viewed as “arbitrary, witch–hunting, illegal and destructive.”

A breakdown of the sacked staff shows that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had 150 of its members relieved of their jobs during the past administration of Gbenga Daniel while 100 others left on their own following the harsh academic climate prevalent then.

Also, the OOU’s Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) had 265 of its members sacked in the downsizing blizzard while the others were Non–Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and one other union.

But the Acting Vice – Chancellor, Prof. Adejimi Adesanya explained that the recall of the affected staff followed the recommendations of a “broad based Committee” put together by the university management to review the case of “disengage staff” and offer advice.

Prof. Adesanya who made this known at the opening session of the two days regular Universities Trade Group Council meeting of Non–Academic Staff of Educational Association Institution, hosted by OOU chapter, added that more would also be recalled as soon as the financial status of the university improves.

Over 200 Representatives (delegates) of NASU members from states and Federal Universities in Nigeria attended the meeting.

The Acting Vice–Chancellor spoke in reaction to NASU OOU branch Chairman, Comrade Rahman Adewole, who appealed to the institution’s management to “give the staff and students welfare its deserved priority, to hasten the recovery process presently taking place in the University.”

Adewole who lauded the management for the initiative, urged it not to relent in its chosen course and to also ensure that the remaining disengaged staff are gradually recalled.