By Emma Amaize
WARRI— ACADEMIC activities were paralysed, Tuesday, at Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE, Effurun, Delta State, following a work-to-rule action by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, in the institution.

The workers, who barricaded the university gate, said their action was to protest the arbitrary recall of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Alabi, and the Registrar, Mrs. L. Onwuka from their accumulated leave by Minister of Education in complete breach of official regulations.

Alabi and Onwuka were recently ordered to proceed on leave by the Governing Council of the university.

The angry workers also besieged Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Warri office, yesterday, where they addressed newsmen on why they embarked on the work-to-rule.

It was gathered that the workers have filed an action in court against the Minister of Education for what they described as breach of laid down rules of the university in the manner the Vice Chancellor and Registrar were recalled from accumulated leave.

When Vanguard visited the university yesterday, the gate was locked. One of the security men on duty said: “You cannot enter. You can see that everywhere is locked. The workers are on strike. That was why we were asked to lock the gate.”

Embattled Prof. Alabi told Vanguard, when contacted, that he had a letter from the Federal Government to resume work and that he was going to resume work, yesterday.

Efforts to reach Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Osazuwa, on the situation were unsuccessful. But the chairman of ASUU, FUPRE chapter, Dr. Akpofure Rim-Kukeh, told Vanguard: “We frown at the Minister of Education asking Alabi and Onwuka to resume work, overruling the decision of the Governing Council which directed them to go on leave.”

He said it was wrong for the Minister, who was not even the Visitor to the university to disregard the decision of the Governing Council of the university, adding, “we are embarking on work-to-rule until the Minister of Education withdraws the illegal directive.”

SSANNU chairman, Mr. Efe Akpojovwo, who spoke to Vanguard said: “We are resisting the recall of Alabi and Onwuka. Our members have locked up all the offices.”