The out-going Vice Chancellor of the Ekiti State University, (EKSU) Ado-Ekiti, Prof. Edward Olanipekun has identified dialogue and constant interface between the government and union leaders as way out of recurring strike action in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Olanipekun who stated these during a press conference, where he presented his valedictory speech said there is the need for the government to also be proactive in meeting the demands of the unions to stop incessant industrial action.
He said, “The way out of strike in our tertiary institutions, is through dialogue and moreso for government to meet the demands of the unions.
“I will continue to implore the government , it should not be time the unions are about to embark on strike that they should be calling for dialogue or negotiation.
“There should be a constant interface whether between the ministry of labour and productivity and the various union leaders . Some of the agitations can even be resolved without embarking on industrial action , that is if government takes proactive steps towards if. And that should not be restricted to only educational but to all other sectors.
“If not for the unions , only God knows what would have become of our universities. Because nobody would have pay any attention if the unions have decided to keep quite and that will add to the despicable conditions of our universities. So dialogue is a way out.
“Some agreements are due for renegotiation and I think government is also doing its bit to ensure that the agreements are renegotiated as soon as possible.”
This is just as he commended President Bola Tinubu-led administration for the introduction and implemention of students loans in the country, saying it is a welcome development.
Olanipekun, who is the 8th substantive VC of the state owned institution said the loan is going to have a great impact, particularly on the indigent students.
“Our students in EKSU have been enlisted and at the moment we are vetting the list of the enrollees to ensure that we have correct information about the students and then revert to Nelfund for our enrolled students and the university to start receiving alert.
“Most of our student here in EKSU are indigent, infact most of them are sponsoring themselves by embarking on all sorts of menial jobs. Some of the are commercial motorcyclists, some of them engage in other jobs that actually does not befit status of a university student.
“With this loan, these students are going to be very happy that finally helper has come their way and will help them to be more focused on their studies. So , we thank President Bola Tinubu for bringing that novel initiative.
“It is one of the ways students train themselves in most countries of the western world, because, there is no place in the world where education is totally free. Cost of training of students especially, at the university level is not cheap. So student loan will go a long way to atleast give students access to quality education”.
He said his saddest day as VC at the university was the day he was told the unions in the university have been proscribed.
According to him, “I was not around when it happened. I was away for a national assignment. I felt bad that , I could these unions be proscribed because they were trying to more or less expressing their grievances. Immediately, I rushed back home from where I was and to the glory of God I was able to meditate in the matter and it was resolved amicably.
Olanipekun who noted that it was really challenging for him to combine activism with administration thanked God for giving him the wisdom to be able to manage both ends .
He revealed that EKSU if not the first will be among the first universities to implement the new salary structure in the tertiary educational system.
“We have since commenced the implementation and we have substantially paid the arrears of the new salary. To me that is something that is worthwhile”.
He explained that the present administration in the country as actually done well going by its response to the recent protest by SSANU and NASU on the unpaid four months salary owed them.
