The leadership of the three workers’ unions at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has denied the allegation of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, that they are being sponsored by Governor Ayo Fayose to cause violence and crisis on the campus.
The FUOYE chapters of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) described Soremekun’s allegation as “puerile, childish and an attempt to gain the sympathy of the federal authorities in Abuja and members of the public.”
Soremekun had alleged at a press conference last Friday that Fayose was the brain behind the long-running crisis in the university which reached the climax last Wednesday with alleged physical attacks on academic staff teaching students.
The VC alleged that the union leaders who were arrested and detained at the police headquarters were released on the order of Fayose who allegedly secured their release through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Modupe Alade.
Addressing reporters on Sunday, NAAT Chairman, Ekundayo Ajibaye, said the unions have no business with Fayose whatsoever other than him being the chief security officer of the state. He said the union leaders are primarily concerned with welfare of the staff and payment of the benefits and promotio of deserving staff.
Ajibaye said: “There is no truth in the allegation of the VC that the governor is sponsoring unions in FUOYE. The allegation by the VC should be disregarded by the entire public and the authorities in Abuja.
SSANU Chairman, Mutiu Ademola, claimed that their release from police custody was facilitated by the representatives of the national bodies of their unions and not by Fayose through his SSG.
Ademola denied the involvement of the unions in the attacks on lecturers last Wednesday for which they were arrested. He alleged that the VC did not sign a tripartite agreement brokered by the Federal Ministry of Labour because of an alleged plan to arrest them.
NASU Chairman, Dada Adebayo, said the face-off between management and the unions was sparked by alleged reneging on an agreement entered into in February this year when the authorities promised to pay arrears of salaries within five days of suspension of strike which was not fulfilled seventeen days after which made unions to picket the bursary.
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