By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Alex Ekwueme University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (ASUU-AEFUNAI) chapter has directed its members to boycott the special convocation being planned by the university management.

The union made this known in a statement on Friday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.

The university management, it was learnt, has planned a special convocation for December 15.

But the union in the statement vowed not to be part of the event.

The statement was signed by the Chairperson and Secretary of the Union, Ogugua Egwu and Moses Alo.

Rising from its congress, the union said the convocation is unnecessary and a waste of scarce resources since no student was graduated in 2020 both at Postgraduate and Undergraduate levels.

The union further argued that the obvious lack of funds in the institution should have been another germane reason not to hold such exercise.

The union, while describing the planned exercise as an act of insensitivity and misplaced priority advised the school management to instead utilise the funds for the convocation for more important things like welfare of staff.

“Congress was informed that Management has gone out of its way to solicit for funds to carry out the said Convocation. Meanwhile the same Management had not made any effort to pay the arrears of honoraria for our Colleagues involved in teaching three semesters of General Studies courses (GST) and one semester each for Language enhancement Programme (LEP), Entrepreneurship (ENT), Pre-degree and Joint University Preliminary Examination Board (JUPEB) courses,” the statement said.

The union said that since ASUU is still on total comprehensive and indefinite strike action, it completely dissociates itself from the said convocation and therefore directed its members not to attend

“Congress has also used this medium to ask management to source funds and pay all arrears of honoraria being owed its deserving members as it will help them cope through this trying period of no salaries,” ASUUS said.

“Remember, the darkest part of the night is that before dawn. No force can undermine the strength of a united front,” the union added.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Chinedum Nwajiuba, did not take calls or reply to text messages seeking his reaction to this report.

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