Prof. Obafunwa made the observation at the inauguration of the 24th executive of the Students Union, held at the MBA Hall, Ojo campus.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)-LASU branch had served the Governing Council and the university management a 21-day ultimatum which had expired. The union on Wednesday, April 30, in line with labour law in declaring trade dispute issued a seven-day ultimatum and vowed to go on strike if its demands were not met.
The vice chancellor said his administration had been trying to solve some of the challenges he met on ground when he assumed office as the seventh vice chancellor of the institution.
His words: “For us to move forward, we need to have a stable academic calendar.”
Citing the example of the University of Ilorin, Obafunwa disclosed that the institution had not experienced any strike and had been graduating students as at when due because the staff unions and stakeholders agreed not to embrace strike as an option.
According to him, during the last national ASUU strike, the university conducted its final year Law and 400 level medical students examinations outside the campus despite stiff opposition while 600 medical students also wrote their re-sit examinations outside the campus.
The new President of the Students Union, Nurudeen Yusuf, assured the students that they would not betray the trust repose on them and pledged to restore the old glory of the union.
Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Akinyemi Kabir, urged the students’ union leaders to obey constituted authorities on campus, follow proper channel of communication in tabling their demands even as he warned them to avoid cultism.
