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The New ASSU Union President, Emmanuel Osodeke, was Elected.
The New ASSU Union President, Emmanuel Osodeke, was Elected.
NewsReport May 31, 2021
NewsReport gathered that Mr. Emmanuel Osodeke, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU immediate)’s past vice-president, has been elected as the union’s new president.
Mr. Osodeke, a professor of soil science at the Federal University of Agriculture in Umudike, Abia State, was elected during a three-day union convention held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, early Sunday morning.
He succeeded Biodun Ogunyemi, an education professor at Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
He succeeded Biodun Ogunyemi, an education professor at Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
Chris Piwuna of the University of Jos was elected as vice president; Olusiji Sowande of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, was elected as treasurer; and Ade Adejumo, a professor from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, was elected as financial secretary.
Austen Sado, a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, was elected investment secretary; Adamu Babayo, of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, was elected internal auditor; and Stella-Maris Oke, of the Cross Rivers State University of Science and Technology, was elected welfare secretary.
Mr. Ogunyemi will continue to serve as an ex-officio member of the new executive committee, presumably to advise the new leadership.
I’m Back to School
Meanwhile, Mr. Ogunyemi, Mr. Osodeke’s predecessor, described his two-term presidency as a period of service to the country.
Mr. Ogunyemi praised the union and his colleagues for their support and encouragement over the phone with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday.
He emphasized that whatever was accomplished during his term was the result of teamwork, and he pushed his successors to carry on the legacy.
“Sure, I’m returning to the classroom to continue to contribute to the nation’s development.”
The New ASSU Union President, Emmanuel Osodeke, was Elected.
Mr. Ogunyemi gave a valedictory speech at the conference earlier on Friday, as reported by Punch Newspaper, in which he highlighted some of the union’s activities, including successes and challenges, over the last five years of his presidency.
The term of office for elected ASUU leadership is two years, and Mr. Ogunyemi served two four-year terms. His term was, however, extended by the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, which paralyzed worldwide activity for about a year.
“At the outset, we must state unequivocally that COVID-19 did not spare our campuses,” he stated. Because their salaries and emoluments, as well as the union’s check-off deductions, were either withheld by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation over the rejection of the discredited Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, many of our infected members had to fight the COVID attack with resources from colleagues and other goodwill.
“In the hands of overzealous State University Vice-Chancellors and Visitors, our other friends experienced the same fate. In fact, we have lost at least 30 members.”
He did say, though, that the union has received significant support from a variety of sources in the last three years, which he stated were too many to list.
“Despite being a government official, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund has never denied his training in ASUU and the Union’s role in modifying the intervention agency,” Mr. Ogunyemi stated.
“Another uncommon breed is the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, who demonstrates thorough comprehension of ASUU’s objective at every meeting with the government. May their race grow in number!
“We also appreciate the Hon. Mallam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education, and Sen (Dr) Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, when it mattered.
“We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. Our sincere gratitude also goes to Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff, who has continued to play an important role in resolving our issues over the previous year.
“All along, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, President of the National Labor Congress and Global President of the International Trade Union Congress, has stood behind us. His strategic intervention, on behalf of the Congress to which we are an affiliate, always made the difference. May your shadow never fade, Comrade Global President?”
