Ojukwu Varsity not part of ASUU strike, academic activities ongoing- Management

The Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam/Uli, in Anambra said that the institution was not participating in the ongoing warning strike embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The institution said this in a statement made available to our correspondent in Awka on Wednesday.

It was reported that ASUU-COOU is divided between Prof. Okey Aniebo and Prof. Osita Chiaghalam factions which are in support and against joining the strike as directed by the national body, respectively.

Dr Harrison Madubueze, the Public Relations Officer of the university who signed the document urged parents, guardians and students to ignore the rumor that the institution had shut down academic activities.

Madubueze said that it was committed to ensuring that students graduated when they were supposed to do so without incurring more expenses than necessary.

According to the statement, ”this is to inform the general public that Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University is not on strike.

“Academic activities are going on massively, with the University-wide quiz which began on Tuesday, ending on Saturday.”

“Parents should therefore ignore any of their wards who come home to inform them otherwise.”

On his part, Aniebo, a Chairman of one of the factions, said the University had joined the strike in compliance with the national body directive.

He said members of his group had withdrawn their services but noted that some academic staff were working.

He claimed that those flouting the strike order were those loyal to the school management which had broken the rank of the Union in the institution.

Aniebo said,”some of them were afraid of the plight of some of them who were owed four months salary for joining the last strike”.

“I cannot talk about compliance, but I want to tell you that ASUU-COOU has joined the strike,” he said.