ASUU directs members to boycott AE-FUNA’s special convocation

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Alex Ekwueme University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (ASUU-AEFUNAI) chapter has directed its members to boycott the special convocation being planned by the university management.

The union made this known in a statement on Friday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.

The university management, it was learnt, has planned a special convocation for December 15.

But the union in the statement vowed not to be part of the event.

The statement was signed by the Chairperson and Secretary of the Union, Ogugua Egwu and Moses Alo.

Rising from its congress, the union said the convocation is unnecessary  and  a  waste of  scarce  resources since  no  student  was  graduated  in  2020  both  at  Postgraduate  and  Undergraduate  levels.

The union further argued that the obvious lack of funds in the institution should have been another germane reason not to hold such exercise.

The union, while describing the planned exercise as an act of insensitivity and misplaced priority advised the school management to instead utilise the funds for the convocation for more important things like welfare of staff.

“Congress  was  informed  that  Management  has  gone  out  of  its  way  to  solicit  for  funds  to  carry  out  the said  Convocation.  Meanwhile  the  same  Management  had  not  made  any  effort  to  pay  the  arrears  of  honoraria for  our  Colleagues  involved  in  teaching  three  semesters  of  General  Studies  courses  (GST)  and  one  semester each  for  Language  enhancement  Programme  (LEP),  Entrepreneurship  (ENT),  Pre-degree  and  Joint  University Preliminary  Examination  Board  (JUPEB)  courses,” the statement said.

The union said that since ASUU  is  still  on  total comprehensive  and  indefinite  strike  action, it completely  dissociates  itself  from  the  said  convocation  and  therefore directed its members  not  to  attend

“Congress  has  also  used  this  medium  to  ask  management  to  source  funds  and  pay  all  arrears  of  honoraria being  owed its deserving  members as it  will  help them cope  through this trying period of no salaries,” ASUUS said.

“Remember, the darkest part of the night is that before dawn. No force can undermine the strength of a united front,” the union added.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Chinedum Nwajiuba, did not take calls or reply to text messages seeking his reaction to this report.