UNILAG VC Urges FG to Intervene in ASUP/COEASU Strike, Chibok Girls
AT the 2012/2013 Convocation ceremonies of the University of Lagos held on June 10 and 11, which produced 9,729 bachelor’s degree and 4,821 post-graduate degree holders, the Vice- Chancellor, Professor Rahamon Ade Bello backed by the Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Jerry Gana and members of Council, made known the improvements on staff welfare as he appealed to the Federal Government on behalf of his colleagues.
His words; “We would like to appeal to the President to urgently intervene in the resolution of the over 10 months strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), in the interest of our students and to stem the falling standard of education, and the increasingly degenerating infrastructure, worsened by the insurgency of Boko Haram. We ask that the Federal Government consider the demands of our colleagues in polytechnics and colleges of education and ensure that the students go back to their classrooms.
“We empathize with Mr President and the Federal Government on having to contend with Boko Haram insurgency which seems to be taking its toll on our nationhood. We also sympathise with the families of the abducted Chibok girls. We pray for a quick resolution and return of the girls.”
To Nigerians he had a few words of advice; “we all have to put in effort as citizens of this great country to support the government and proffer some home grown solutions to the issues of insecurity which seems to be hydra-headed and growing like wild fire. We at the University of Lagos have our own role to play. A post- graduate course in Security and Intelligence Studies has been endorsed for commencement by our senate and should engender meaningful research on security issues and concerns.”
On staff welfare, Bello said; “The University management has carried out the regularisation and upgrade of qualified temporary, as well as non-teaching staff who have acquired additional qualifications. The newly regularised and upgraded members of staff underwent a one month immersion programme aimed at re-orienting and positioning them for fresh challenges in line with the vision and mission of our university and have since taken over new roles particularly in the administration of academic departments.
“In the same vein, the University Staff Home Ownership Committee has re-invigorated the process of providing eligible members of staff with land and housing loans for building houses and purchasing or redeeming an existing mortgage on a house or piece of land without a building. “All these are geared towards creating an enabling environment for the sustenance of academic excellence at the University of Lagos.”
He thanked staff and students for standing by his administration, saying; “The speed at which we were able to come to full gear with academics after the six months interruption in the academic calendar is an indication of the commitment of all. This is why we were able to complete the 2012/2013 academic session promptly. We appreciate you all.”
Bakre Oluwafemin Abubakar got award as overall best graduating student and best graduating student, Sciences,with CGPA of 4.86 (B.Sc Electrical and Electronics Engineering), and Akeem-Omosanya Muinat Wuraola, B.Sc Accounting, with 4.75 CGPA, best graduating student, Humanities, amidst several other awards to deserving graduates. (Vanguard)