By DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA – The Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUNAAB) has begun moves to re-absorb the 23 sacked members of staff of the University.

The FUNAAB’s Public Relations Officer, Emi Alawode disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.

Alawode said the decision to recall the sacked workers was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 91st Meeting of the Governing Council, held recently, at the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja and signed by the Acting Registrar and Secretary to the council , Mr. Obafemi Oginni.

According to her, owing to series of appeals from within and outside the University community, the Council communiqué directed that the twenty-three staff, whose appointments were recently terminated, should, within 48 hours, each forward a letter of Appeal to the Secretary, Council Committee on Investigation of the Lingering Industrial Unrest and Tension, Acting Registrar’s Office, between Friday, December 16 and Monday, December 19, 2016.

“Resolutions reached at the meeting, also include the constitution of the Council Committee to Investigate the Lingering Industrial Unrest and Tension in the University with the following Terms of Reference: to receive appeals from aggrieved members of staff; to investigate and identify the remote and immediate causes of the unrest and tension, as well as identify the institutional and structural factors responsible for the unrest.

“Others are: to identify any other predisposing factors to the unrest; to recommend immediate measures for rectifying the current situation; to recommend lasting measures and strategies for conflict-resolution in the University; to make any other recommendations, which may be germane to the maintenance of order and good governance in the University; to ascertain the culpability of persons and groups in the crisis and to propose appropriate sanctions and deterrence for such persons and groups so identified.

“The Governing Council also directed all other staff on industrial action to resume at their duty posts immediately in the best interest of the University and ensure that they do not engage in any conduct that could constitute any breach of peace and good governance in the University; while it enjoins all parties to withdraw all civil cases in the courts to allow the Council Committee to function properly.

“The Council acknowledged that normal academic and administrative activities are on-going in the University and urges staff to continue to positively contribute towards restoring peace and normalcy in the University, while affirming that Professor Olusola Oyewole, remains the Vice-Chancellor of the University”, the state read.