Academic activities at

Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology

(OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, were, yesterday, brought to a standstill by members of staff of the institution, protesting against mass dismissal of some of their colleagues.

The aggrieved workers, who gathered in front of the school gate, claimed that no fewer than 35 of their colleagues had been unfairly sacked by the management.

The workers, who were infuriated by the action, shut the main gate of the school and vowed to disrupt academic and non-academic activities until the decision is reversed.

They insisted that the sacked workers should be reinstated for normalcy to return.

According to the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), OAUSTECH branch, Dr. Rotimi Olorunsola, the affected workers were legitimately employed, had received appointment letters, and had completed all the necessary documentation since March 2022.

Olorunsola said: “We have given the governing council an ultimatum that unless it reverses the decision it made by sacking our members, we cannot guarantee industrial harmony.

“Some of our employed members were first-class graduates, and we cannot throw them away.
“Most universities have the culture of retaining their first-class products. We also resolved that if the council is having an issue with the management, it should resolve it and not come and bounce back on our members.

“As a matter of fact, the appointment was approved by the former council. They were given a letter in March 2022, but they resumed in October because there was an ASUU strike.

“The affected members of staff have contributed to the progress of the university since last year, so, there is no point sending them out of the system because we need them.

“We are not giving them an ultimatum but until they reverse the case, the doors of the university remain locked. Even the 100-level examination that is coming up on Monday will not hold. There will be no examination or lecture.”

Also, Chairman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the institution, Dayo Temola, who expressed dismay over the development, said the move of the management lacks justification.

He said: “The unions of SSANU, NASU, NAAT hereby reject this mass sack and demand that it be reversed with immediate effect.

“Ondo State Government should, as a matter of urgency, set up a visitation panel in line with the university laws.”

Meanwhile, when contacted over the development, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the institution, Paul Ade-Agbo, said the institution would react at the appropriate time.