The leadership of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has berated the management of the university over alleged intimidation of its members who may embark on any industrial action.
Newsmen learnt that the national body of NASU had earlier informed the management of FUNAAB that its members would embark on a seven-day warning strike starting from Monday.
NASU is accusing the university of undue interference in its affairs; instigation of members against the union leadership; victimization; denial of promotion; arrest and detention of its members as well as suspension of four members of the association.
In response, the Registrar of FUNAAB, Dr Bola Adekola, asked the NASU national headquarters to steer clear of its affairs, asking it to withdraw the directive for a strike action.
Adekola said there is nothing happening in FUNAAB to warrant NASU going on strike, saying it is grossly illegal for the national body of NASU to declare strike for FUNAAB workers.
But a statement on Tuesday by Its Chairman, S. I. Edivri, said no responsible union like NASU will fold its arms with all the “shenanigans, lawlessness and impunity” going on at FUNAAB.
“It is bitterly disheartening that any University Management can descend so low into blackmailing, attacking and character assassinating of its own staff just because it wants to hijack the administration of the staff union,” Edivri stated.
He maintained that “the Management’s shenanigan attitudes and lies” cannot deter NASU-FUNAAB members from embarking on the 7-day strike to press home its demands.
“In fact, the strike has already commenced and is in full force following its formal declaration in a well attended congress on October 24, 2022 in the university despite various kinds of intimidations from the management.
“The leadership and the entire members of NASU-FUNAAB branch commended the National headquarters for its pro-activeness to defend and save the downtrodden and workers from the hand of NASU oppressor,” he said.