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The authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University OAU, Ile-Ife Monday ordered students of the institution to vacate the university following the continuous protest and shut down of facilities on the campus by workers under the aegis of Non Academic Staff Union, OAU chapter.
But the University Public Relations Officer, Mr. Biodun Olarewaju, explained that the university declared a ‘mid semester break’ not closure.
It would be recalled that the workers, who started with a warning strike penultimate Wednesday, alleged that they have not been paid their hazard allowances for about 64 months.
During the protests, the aggrieved workers shut down the university’s main gate and other facilities, including the university senate building and library, while. Vehicular movements were stopped with the main entrances of the university blocked for a week.
He denied the clain that the break was connected to the protest by workers of the university, saying that the school only wanted her students to go and have rest.
His words: “at the emergency meeting today, the senate has approved that the management give the students mid-semester break, not closure. We will communicate to you in due course. The students should enjoy their Sallah celebration.”
When asked if the break was connected to the unpaid workers protest and proposed Monday (yesterday) strike, the PRO said, “I don’t think so. The management wants the students to be well prepared for their academics. The students are supposed to proceed on the break today (Monday).”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the NASU, OAU Chapter, Comrade Wole Odewunmi, had hinted that they will embark on full shut down of the university .
“For the past 64 months, we are owned hazard allowance and we have had several meetings but yielded no results. After this, if the management refuses to respond to our demand, we will notify the management of our strike action. This is just a notification ahead of our strike action,” he added.