SSANU, NASU Strike Led To Student’s Death, Says FUOYE Official

An Federal University Oye Ekiti official has blamed the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) strike for the death of a student Tuesday.

An asthmatic student from Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) died as he reportedly couldn't get access to medical care due to the closure of the institution's clinic. FUOYE Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina, blamed the nationwide strike for this tragic incident.

"We lost a student this morning in FUOYE who had asthma because he could not be taken to our clinic because the facility is under lock and key. It is true that students are on holiday, but not all of them are living on campus," Fasina said, Punch reported.

He added, "It would have been easier for the student to be rushed to our clinic for urgent treatment, but our university gate is locked."

Fasina pointed out that not all universities were shut due to the strike -- including the Administrative Block of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, as it was open and everyone carried on with their regular activities.

"Total or comprehensive strike is not going on in EKSU. But the same leadership of EKSU SSANU went on air yesterday (Monday) to incite the public and even led some hoodlums to invade our school based on a false narrative he was fed by Chairman FUOYE SSANU," he said.

The vice chancellor blamed the EKSU chairperson who gave false information to the National President (of SSANU), noting that he gave an "impression that he had been beaten and harassed."

Fasina said, "The National President allegedly directed that the leadership of their union in Ondo, Osun, and Kwara should proceed to FUOYE to rescue the chairman. It is that impunity that the EKSU chairperson used. But we hope he won't misuse the immunity."

He stressed that the SSANU chairman was "never harassed or threatened by any security operative," adding that the "university is committed to the continual maintenance of peace and security on our campuses."

The chairman of SSANU, FUOYE chapter, Oluwaseun Faleye responded to the allegation and accused the vice chancellor of intimidating the leadership of the union.

"You are aware of the national directive of our union that all branches should embark on a seven-day strike, beginning from 18 March," Faleye said. "We have evidence of our correspondence with the management notifying them of the strike. But they felt they could impose concessions on us that we must give concessions and not follow the national directive."

SSANU and NASU began a strike on Monday over salaries being withheld by the federal government. Nigeria Labour Congress National President Joe Ajaero urged the government to immediately release the four months' worth of withheld salaries. The strike began after giving a seven-day warning, which led to halting activities in universities nationwide.