OAU begins lectures on Thursday

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife in Osun State has directed all students of the institution to return to their halls of residence on Wednesday.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Registrar and Secretary to Council of the university, Mrs Margaret Omosule.

Omosule stated that full academic activities would begin on Thursday for the continuation of the 2021/2022 session.

She said the decision was taken at a special meeting of the OAU Senate held in Oduduwa Hall on Tuesday.

“On behalf of the Council and Senate of the University, we wish our students an uninterrupted academic session and a safe trip from their respective locations,” she said.

The resumption followed the suspension of the eight-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) last Friday.

Recall that ASUU embarked on the strike on February 14 over the failure of the Federal Government to meet the demands of the union.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, after what he described as “failed negotiations”, dragged the striking lecturers to the National Industrial Court.

The court, on September 21, ordered ASUU to call off the strike.

The court granted the motion on notice filed by the Federal Government directing the lecturers to return to classrooms.

Ruling on the interlocutory injunction, the trial judge, Polycarp Hamman, restrained ASUU from continuing with the industrial action.

However, ASUU through its lead counsel, Femi Falana, appealed the case at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

The court, on October 7, ordered the union to go back to the classroom in compliance with the lower court’s ruling within seven days as a condition precedent for the appeal to be heard.

ASUU later directed its members to return to the classrooms, though it insisted its demands had yet to be met.

Following the decision, several universities have been announcing schedules for the resumption of academic activities.

The Star

Segun Ojo