Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe
MOUAU: Absence of Governing Council jeopardizing our welfare, varsity workers fume
[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]
Workers of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), have expressed anger over delay in reconstituting the institution’s Governing Council.
The workers made their feelings known through the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) branches of the institution which disclosed Tuesday that that the absence of a Governing Council, coupled with the spar between the Federal Ministry of Education and its Agriculture counterpart ,over who controls universities of Agriculture in the country, was jeopardizing their welfare.
The situation in MOUAU forced the members of the two unions to embark on a one-week warning strike which ended last Monday, paving way for resumption of academic activities last Tuesday, after the brief Christmas and New Year holidays.
The Oracle Today gathered that the tenure of the last Governing Council of MOUAU ended last year and a new one was elected around September, 2021 but has yet to be inaugurated.
The development, according to some members of staff, has halted certain management decisions that were now affecting the workers in terms of their welfare and ratification of promotions since September 2019, amongst others, which made NASU to issue and enforce the one-week warning strike.
The staff are equally bothered by the non-resolution of the squabble between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and its Education counterpart over who controls the Universities of Agriculture in the country which has been causing problems for the workers.
A staff who volunteered comments to newsmen hinted that neglect on the part of the Federal Government to reconstitute the Governing Council has left MOUAU in disarray, adding the situation was threatening the peace and tranquility currently existing in the university environment.
“Let federal government do what they are supposed to do. Let them reconstitute the board and be categorical on which ministry has control over the Universities of Agriculture in the country. That is our major problem,” another staff said.
Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council of MOUAU’s NASU and SSANU, Comrade Ohambele Ifeanyi, declined to talk to the Press after addressing the union members during at the end of the one-week warning strike.
