Members of the recently Registered Congress of University Academics (CONUA) Federal University, Lokoja Chapter, trooped out enmass to elect their executive members at the Adankolo Campus of the university.
At the end of the election, the following members emerged as the new leaders of the young union: Dr. Salawu – Chapter Chairman; Dr. Abba Abba – Chapter Secretary; Dr. Tunde Etche – Chapter Financial Secretary; Dr. Chinyelu Agwu – Chapter Treasurer; Dr. Adams Shuaibu – Chapter Welfare Officer and Mr Ali Hassan- Chapter Auditor.
Speaking before the election, the Chairman, Dr. Salawu, who has championed the course of the union from its initial life as Progressive ASUU (PASSU) to its present transformation as CONUA, expressed his optimism that the new union emerged out of the necessity to address some of the issues confronting workers’ welfare which have over the years defied ASUU strategies.
He maintained that as intellectuals, university academics were meant to evaluate whatever instruments they use in addressing issues from time to time to determine their effectiveness.
Unfortunately, this has not been so with ASUU, CONUA therefore, understands that the instrument of incessant strikes have not only failed ASUU members but also the entire nation.
Many staff and students have so far lost many robust scholarly opportunities, job openings, promotions, fellowship grants, and many more.
Also many students have lost admission and scholarship chances both home and abroad on account of strikes as the union forbids their members from attending to such important matters during strikes, including elements meant for its members’ welfare.
It therefore beats imagination that a union that should protect and further it’s members’ welfare packages instead frustrates them while doggedly focusing on extraneous battles.
The Chairman, added that CONUA seeks to resist actions that are capable of frustrating academic activities on campus and denying members of their opportunities and rights.
He gave instances with many staff who lost their lives during strikes because they could not afford their routine drugs and students who either went into depression or joined criminal gangs because they were not gainfully engaged during strikes.
Also speaking after the election, the new executive members assured the university management led by the Vice Chancellor(VC), Prof Olayemi Durotimi Akinwunmi, that CONUA would not disappoint the Nigerian university system because its peaceful and diplomatic ideology is what is needed especially at this time to address the current employer-employee imbroglio bedeviling our public university system.
They noted that as students and staff victims of university strikes, they believed that CONUA offers them the voice and opportunity to support programs that promote, rather than disrupt academic programs in Nigerian universities. They thanked the members for the trust reposed in them and promised not to take that trust for granted.
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