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Claim
A report published on This Day live on the 7th of October 2022 by Victor Ogunje, claimed that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ekiti State University Chapter, Ado Ekiti (EKSU), has finally broken away from the nationwide strike declared by the National body.
The headline of the story reads “Ekiti Varsity ASUU Finally Suspends Strike, Matriculates 4,000 Students”, with the image of the university (EKSU) on the front page.
The report says:
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“Indication that the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti(EKSU), has finally broken away from the nationwide strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) emerged yesterday as the institution matriculated 4,000 new students.”
EKSU ASUU
ASUU EKSU is the Ekiti State Varsity Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities and has been on strike since the commencement of the industrial action embarked upon by the national body.
ASUU And The Strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) university staff as a successor to the Nigerian Association of University Teachers which was founded in 1965, was formed in 1978 to cater for the interests of all academic staff in Federal and State universities in Nigeria.
ASUU embarked on an industrial action on Feb 14, 2022, owing to the Federal Government’s refusal to meet their demands, including issues relating to the funding of universities and lecturers’ salaries and allowances.
ROUNDCHECK Findings
According to a press release by the Registrar of EKSU, Ife Oluwole, on the 21st of August 2022, he said that the university is set to resume both academic and administrative activities following the results of the stakeholders’ meeting that was held on Sunday 21st of August 2022.
A part of the press release states, “accordingly, all newly admitted students for the 2021/2022 academic session should also resume on Monday, August 29, 2022, for screening, registration, and orientation program.”
However, ASUU EKSU made a press release days after in response to the University stakeholder’s resolution encouraging the national body to continue with the ongoing strike until the government does the needful.
When sourcing for more information, ROUNDCHECK visited the EKSU website. On the 21st of September, 2022, the Head, Directorate of Information & Corporate Affairs, Bode Olofinmuagun, published an information regarding EKSU resumption.
According to the published report, students were informed about the commencement of academic activities which would take effect on Thursday, 22nd September.
“Therefore, round off lectures and examinations for the second semester of the 2020/2021 academic session had been scheduled to run through September and 5th November when examinations would end.”
EKSU VC Vs ASUU
On the 21st of September,2022 also, The Vice-Chancellor, PROF E.O Olanipekun, sent out a press release appealing to all staff unions on campus to resume work.
In the press release, the VC solicited the staff union’s total support to resume work and round up the ongoing 2nd semester of the 2020/2021 academic session.
Sixteen days (14) after, approximately 2 weeks, ASUU EKSU broke the silence and responded to the VC’s appeal in a press release signed by the chairman, Dr. Kayode Arogundade.
The press release made on Wednesday, 5th of October 2022, and titled ASUU EKSU’s position on University Administration’s request for commencement of Academic Activities, analysed the reasons ASUU EKSU are with the national struggle and how it is for the survival of Tertiary Education in Nigeria.
The press release ended with a resolution that states:
“Going by the above analysis and quality of governance enjoyed at both state and federal levels in Nigeria. It is out of place for a University like EKSU, that had benefited immensely and continuously from the National Struggle of ASUU to thinker with breaking the national struggle for whatever reasons.”
Hence, EKSU-ASUU is yet to suspend the ongoing strike as they indicate support for the national body in the ongoing industrial action.
Although the claim that EKSU has resumed is incorrect, the university indeed matriculated new students on Friday, 6th of October, 2022.
We also gathered that registrations are ongoing at the university. But this does not represent the EKSU chapter of ASUU suspending strike (as at the time of this report).
Verdict
The claim that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ekiti State University Chapter, Ado Ekiti (EKSU) has finally suspended its strike is INCORRECT.
All information and documents gathered showed that the chapter (as at the time of this report) is still in support of the national body in the ongoing industrial action pending when the Federal Government will yield to their demand.
