This is a special release for the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ife community.
Read below;
It is apparent that there has been an upsurge in violence and escalating threats to lives and properties in the universities in the recent past by some members of staff.
Some of these acts have bothered on criminality including verbal and physical accuse of officers and members of the University community, including Council members.
At the last Council meeting of 21 April, 2017, members of the Council were held hostage against their will and prevented from leaving Floor O, Room O5, the venue of the meeting. Power supply to the venue was cut off and Council members were denied access to food and drink. The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council was assaulted and pelted with objects, including sachets of water. Arising from forcefully preventing members of Council from exiting the venue of the meeting, a member of Council missed his scheduled flight. The hostage situation lasted for eight hours and was only brought to an end by the intervention of law enforcement agencies led by the State Commissioner of Police, the Area Commander of Ile-Ife.
There is palpable apprehension in the University and members of management of the University and other law abiding members of the community are fearful of pursuing their legitimate activities and performing their duties because of the threats to their lives.
Arising from that state of affairs on campus, the Management of the University, at its meeting held on April 22, 2017, resolved as follows –
i. In line with the earlier directive of the Council which had been circulated to the members of the community many times in the past, there shall be no more gatherings or meetings of unions during the prescribed working hours of 8.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday.
ii. Any member of staff who is absent from their duty post without their permission of their head of department or unit head will face disciplinary actions in line with the regulations of the University.
iii. Gatherings of any kind by staff at the Secretariat Car Park, the Senate Building, the Sports Complex and other similar public facilities are no longer allowed during working hours.
iv. Any act of criminal or violent conduct, including threats to life (verbal or physical) will be reported to law enforcements agencies for appropriate actions and followed up according to the law and regulations of the University.
v. Management will review the recent happenings, to which reference have been made and take appropriate actions in line with the University Regulations and the law of the country.All law-abiding members of the community are advised to go about their lawful duties and report any suspicious actions or threats to the peace of the community to the Security Department.
MANAGEMENT
