No fewer than 35 lecturers have been sacked by the authorities of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State.

Consequently, the affected lecturers and their association, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Wednesday paralysed academic and social activities on the campus as they protested the sack of the lecturers.

The lecturers shut the main entrance of the varsity, vowing not to reopen until the management revert the sack of the affected lecturers.

Sources revealed that the affected lecturers, among who were products of the institution who graduated with First Class honours, were employed in March, 2022, but assumed work in October as a result of an industrial action.

The Chairman of ASUU chapter of the varsity, Dr. Rotimi Olorunsola, stated that “we cannot guarantee industrial harmony unless they (management) revert the decision. We taught those that were sacked. They are our First Class graduates.

“If the Council is having issues with the management, they should resolve it. These appointments were made by the former Council. There is no point sending them away. There will be no examination and no lectures.”

In his reaction to the development, the Chairman of the Joint Action Committee of the institution, Mr. Dayo Temola, urged the management of the school to reverse the sack of the lecturers.

He said the varsity workers would not tolerate the decision of the authorities, saying, “It is true to say that when this news had earlier filtered in, it was debunked by university management/council until yesterday.

“We, therefore, reiterate that the basis for justification of these mass sack by the council is not tenable and will neither be tolerated nor accepted.

“The unions of SSANU, NASU AND NAAT hereby reject this mass sack and demand the followings:

“That the mass sack be reversed with immediate effect.

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

The angry workers, therefore, vowed to continue the protest till the varsity authorities reverse their decision. (Daily Independent)

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