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...For a better society... Friday, July 30 2004 Vol 17 No.30 News Editorial Politics Opinion Foreign News Fashion Metro Sports Features Columnists View from America Business Money/Market Maritime Aviation Motoring Rail/Road OAU yet to reopen, 3 months after ABIODUN FELIX, Osogbo. THE crisis rocking the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State seems not to have abated as the authorities are in a dilemma over the reopening of the school. The university has remained shut for the past three months following a face-off between the authorities and the academic staff over unpaid salaries. The academic staff are presently embroiled in a rift with the former over the alleged refusal of the authorities to pay them their salaries for March and April last year when the lecturers embarked on a national strike. Daily Champion learnt that the authorities predicated their refusal to pay the two months’ salaries on a directive from the Federal Government that those who were not on their duty posts during the strike should not be paid. The authorities said it would need about N220 million to pay the salaries. However, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in the university said it would not process the examination papers and results of the students if the outstanding salaries are not paid. SSANU alleged that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rogers Makanjiola embarked on selective payment and withheld the salaries of some lecturers who were seen not to be friendly. Although the university senate fixed July 19, this year as resumption date, it later suspended the resumption indefinitely, so as to forestall protests from students who had vehemently condemned new fees tagged "departmental charges" recently introduced by the authorities. Daily Champion also learnt that various associations in the institution have resolved to fight the authorities to stand-still if some of their demands were not met. It was gathered that at a meeting held last Wednesday, Association of University Technologist of Nigeria (AUTN) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) resolved to make the OAU ungovernable if Prof. Makanjiola rejects their demands. Students Union president, Elegbede Muhammed berated the authorities for their hard posture on the crisis, adding that "the students should not be blamed for any protest because the authorities are alien to peace and dialogue." OAU spokesman Mr. Segun Afolabi has appealed to all the bodies to show understanding on the matter and create room for peace and harmony in the institution. � 2004 @ Champion Newspapers Limited (All Right Reserved). Powered By dnetsystems.net dnet�

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