•Recalls union’s experiences with outgoing administration
By Gabriel Dike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has re-elected Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke and other executive members for another two-year term.
Osodeke was re-elected at the 22nd National Delegates’ Conference held at the University of Jos, Plateau State, which attracted stakeholders. He was first elected in May 2021 at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.
At the end of voting, Osodeke polled a total of 362 ‘yes’ votes out of 379 accredited voters at the 22nd NDC meeting, with four against.
Others re-elected include vice president, Dr. Chris Piwuna, with 362 votes and six against him. For the post of treasurer, Prof. Olusiji Sowande secured 362 votes as against seven votes.
Prof. Ade Adejumo polled 356 votes to retain the financial secretary post but registered 11 against him; the position of internal auditor went to Dr. Adamu Babayo, with 366 votes. Dr. Austen Sado was re-elected as investment secretary, with 359 votes, as against seven votes; the only female in the executive went to Dr. Aisha Bawa as welfare officer with 360 votes, six delegates voted against her, and one voided vote.
In his address, Osodeke said the present set of principal officers was elected at the 21st National Delegates’ Conference at the Nnamdi Azikwe University, in May 2021. He explained that, since the election, the union has undergone a lot of struggles, tribulations, and threats from government agents, especially the Ministry of Labour and Employment headed by Dr. Chris Ngige.
He added: “I must, therefore, salute the resilience of our members and their families in the face of an unequalled regime of the onslaught against our great union. As it were, the despicable efforts to annihilate ASUU brought out the best in us and reinforced the aphorism: A people united cannot be defeated.
“Let us remember that the battle is not yet over. Hence at this conference, all the commissions must deliberate and come up with innovative strategies for reinventing our struggle for the Nigerian university system and Nigeria as a country.
“The arena for the struggle appears to have shifted to the judiciary (the Nigeria Industrial Count) and we thank our colleagues in the legal profession who have risen to the challenge.”
According to him, the past two years have been challenging for members and the union due to deliberate efforts of the government to scuttle the struggle for a better education system and improved university education.
Osodeke said the salaries of members in federal and some state universities were stopped, several attempts were made by the Minister of Labour and Employment to proscribe ASUU, and agreements reached with two government re-negotiation teams were rejected.
“In federal and state universities alike, ASUU members were pauperized and brutalized for challenging governments to make their institutions and welfare packages attractive and competitive.
“Those who could not stand the humiliation have fought with their feet and fled the country. And it is the grace of the Almighty God that has kept those of them left behind going. May we never see such terrible times in our union and our country,’’ the ASUU president stated.