The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), OAU Chapter has berated the Academic staff union of universities(ASUU) over it’s reaction on the death of a final year student, Adeshina Aishat
Aishat was said to have died at Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, Ile-Ife, where she was referred to by the university’s health centre.
The late student, DAILY GIST gathered until her death was a 400L student of Foreign Language in the institution.
DAILY GIST reports that students of the university took to the street to protest the death of their colleague, Adesina Omowunmi Aishat owing to alleged negligence by the health centre staffs and workers.
The protesting students accused the university’s health centre of poor management of Aishat’s case, and for allegedly delaying in its response when the deceased presented herself to the centre.
The students demanded a complete restructuring of the health centres, working emergency department, adequate medical facilities, hiring nurses and doctors who treat cases as a matter of urgency, among others to prevent future occurrence of untimely student death.
Reacting to the development, ASUU OAU had urged the university management to pay attention to students plights and demands on the activities of University health center.
ASUU demanded that the University set up an independent panel of enquiry to look into the activities on the OAU Health centre with view of finding lasting solutions to complaints of both staffs and students, DAILY GIST had reported.
But speaking on Tuesday, The OAU SSANU chairman, Comrade Taiwo Arobadi in a statement he sent to DAILY GIST few moments ago blasted ASUU over its comments, describing it as unfortunate.
The union also urged OAU Management to reopen campus for students to complete the suspended examinations.
The statement titled “SSANU COMMISERATE WITH THE UNIVERSITY” reads in full;
“The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), OAU Chapter wants to use this medium to sympathize with the family, friends, colleagues, students and the entire University Community on the unfortunate death of Adesina, Omowumi Aishat, a part four student in the department of Foreign Languages.
The attention of SSANU has also been drawn to the unfortunate online release of ASUU OAU Chapter that the death of Adesina, Omowumi Aishat was as a result of the negligence by the staff and workers of the Health Centre.”
SSANU felt it is very necessary and appropriate to put the records straight on the circumstances that greeted the death of the said student.”
It would be recollected that in the Press Release circulated by the University Public Relations Officer, it was clearly stated and understood that “On Tuesday, 28th September, 2021; a 24 year old, female, part 4 student of the Department of Foreign Languages reported to the Health Centre with signs and symptoms of a severe infection.
“She was promptly treated with some drugs prescribed and asked to report back as an out-patient. She was back to the Health Centre in the morning of Thursday, 30th September, 2021. Upon examination, she was referred to the Seventh-
Day Adventist Hospital for further management…”
Apart from this statement from the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University it was further reiterated that the University has put in place machinery to unravel the circumstance(s) surrounding the immediate and remote cause of the incidence; the outcome of which is yet to be released by the University management.
The Academic Staff (ASUU) that is supposed to be above board in its judgement on issues has suddenly become hypocritical and object of social instability within the system.
“It is equally obvious that the release of ASUU is not only misleading but also capable of inciting the general public against the management of the Health Centre and by extension, the University management.”
“Further claims by ASUU in their release of perennial complaints of both the Staff and students was both specious and unfounded as it is borne out of puerile hatred for the non-teaching staff. It has also been discovered that the complaints was a result of the resistance by the Health Centre against the high-handedness of some ASUU members anytime they visit the Health Centre for treatment.
In conclusion, SSANU, OAU chapter wishes to use this medium to advise ASUU OAU to always look into issues without prejudice and do away with undue sentiments and emotions. We also want to appeal to the Students to be law abiding as SSANU will continue to protect the interests of both students and Staff in general.
SSANU also implore the University Management to ensure that the school is reopened and students are called back to campus to complete the suspended examinations and move forward.”
