FUTA workers shun work despite reconciliation moves

In spite of the reconciliation moves in
the lingering crisis between the Vice
Chancellor of the Federal University of
Technology, Akure, Prof. Adebiyi
Daramola and three labour unions in the
institution, workers were yet to return to
work.
The three labour unions- Senior Staff
Association of Nigeria, the National
Association of Academic Technologists
and the Non-Academic Staff Union of
Universities have been calling for the
sack of Daramola following an
allegation of financial misappropriation.
During the crisis, the Governing Council
of the institution  suspended 23 leaders
of the union for allegedly disturbing the
activities on the campus.
But as part of the efforts to put an end
to the crisis, the suspended labour
leaders were recalled and a
reconciliation committee was set up to
look into the matter and bring a lasting
solution.
It was however gathered that inspite of
all these efforts, the workers were still
on ‘strike’, making both academic and
non-academic activities paralysed.
A member of the NASU of the institution,
who pleaded anonymity told our
correspondent that crisis will not end
until the Vice Chancellor was removed.
He said, ” It is not the suspension of our
members that began the crisis, the crisis
had been on before the suspension. So
until the fundamental issue is tackled,
the crisis will persist and the issue is
that Daramola must go”
The Head of Information and Protocol
Unit of the institution, Mr. Adegbenro
Adebanjo, in a statement said the crisis
would soon be over as the committee
set for the reconciliation and been
inaugurated, expressing assurance that
the committee would do justice to the
matter.
He said, ” In its bid to resolve the
lingering disagreement between non-
academic staff unions and management
of the FUTA, the Governing Council has
inaugurated a Crisis Resolution
Committee on Friday December 16,
2016.
“The Chairman,  Governing Council of
FUTA, Dr. Mohammed Shata said the
Committee is not expected to focus on
the current impasse alone, but to look
at how critical stakeholders (staff and
students) can work in harmony to move
the university forward.”