The Congress of Universities Academics ( C ONUA) , Ambrose Ali University,Ekpoma chapter says it will not be part of any strike action that does not consider the plight of students whose parents have managed to pay their school fees., describing the Industrial action as insensitive.
In a statement issued by the Chairman, Iyawe Hanson and Secretary, Nwoke Ernest, assured both parents and students that it would not participate in the purported strike.
While assuring the students that its members would be available to teach and research, the union said the commencement of an Industrial action at a time a white paper is being expected to chart a new course for the Ambrose Ali University is a rude surprise .
It therefore urged students to remain committed to their lectures and their examinations that will certainly continue.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had declared an indefinite strike beginning from midnight,March 25, to press home their financial demands from the University management and the state government which it said runs into billions of naira.
Some of its demands include” payment of 4 months salary, check- off dues and other sundry deductions which were yet to be paid to staff unions, welfare associations and cooperatives in the university for close to a year
Chairman of ASUU, Ambrose Ali University chapter,Dr Monday Igba fen in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, described the strike as compelling in view of the painstaking efforts, including letters to meetings with the University to avoid the ongoing strike without success
” In particular, the union recalls with sadness the hitherto non response to the union’s memos seeking audience with the Governor of Edo State and visitor to the University, Mr Godwin Obaseki over the salary palaver and other critical issues of governance in the University .”
It notes with sadness what members are going through and the continued debilitating human and living conditions of non- payment of salaries and the general issues in the University.”
