The stalling of academic activities in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) because of the indefinite strike embarked upon by the institution’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) a few weeks ago is not likely to be resolved soon, as the union has accused the Ondo State government of turning a blind eye to the deteriorating condition of the institution.
According t o the striking lecturers, the institution, which was once the pride of the state, has suffered from severe and continuous neglect despite the call for urgent intervention.
ASUU-AAUA had in August declared an indefinite strike over two months of unpaid salaries and other accumulated arrears, with the institution’s Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) also threatening to embark on industrial action over the situation.
While addressing newsmen during a press briefing in Akure, on Friday, the Chairman of ASUU-AAUA, Boluwaji Oshodi, disclosed that despite the series of meetings held prior to the industrial action, the Governor LuckyAiyedatiwa-led government has continued to renege on the resolutions reached.
Oshodi, who was flanked by the other executive members of the union, emphasised that one of the major challenges confronting the institution was the issue of inadequate funding, specifically pointing to the paltry monthly subvention and the non-release of capital grants, which are essential for the university’s development and day-to-day operations.
The ASUU chairman stressed that the neglect of the university has greatly affected the welfare of its academic staff.
He said: “The following are currently being experienced by the university: Bad access road to the university – the two roads linking the university to theOwo-Ikare major highway are in deplorable conditions such that it is difficult to believe that they actually lead to a university.
“Lecture rooms, laboratories, and the library need some urgent facelifts. Lecturers’ offices are the worst hit. The Faculty of Arts, a two-storey building, for example, has been abandoned by staff accommodated on the second floor because the inner roof of most offices has collapsed and are usually flooded anytime it rains. The same thing is happening to the Faculty of Education. The roof is leaking, making the offices on the last floor uninhabitable anytime it rains.
“It may amaze you to know that the state government has not released a kobo as a capital grant to the university for the past seven years. The interesting thing is that the Ondo State House of Assembly appropriates capital grants for the university on a yearly basis. The question is: What happens to this money every year?
“Before now, the university had depended onTETFund’sintervention for infrastructural development. However, sinceTETFund’sintervention was taken away from the university by the state government during the last dispensation, the university has experienced serious decay in infrastructural facilities.
“This issue of having three universities is very pathetic. We have people in government, who don’t really understand the importance of education. There is a difference between education and quality education. One of the major things that ASUU is against is the proliferation of universities, where universities are established anyhow.”
Oshodiemphasised that the failure of the State Assembly to carry out proper oversight has emboldened the executive to starve AAUA of resources.
The union warned that unless the Assembly wakes up to its constitutional duty, the university will collapse under the weight of unpaid salaries, unremitted taxes, and abandoned infrastructure.
