The planned retrenchment of non teaching staff in federal universities has taken a spiritual dimension.
Though the workers have been placed on the red alert to begin an indefinite strike soon, nonetheless they have gone spiritual on the matter.
On Thursday at the University of Ibadan, the workers engaged in a prayer session as they called on the heavenly hosts to stop the government from retrenching them.
The prayer session, which took place at the Trenchard Hall of the university, had in attendance the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole; the Registrar, Olujimi Olukoya; and the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Idowu Olayinka.
The session began with the Chief Imam of the UI mosque, Y. Yusuf, praying.
Shortly after, a Christian worker, simply identified as Brother Daniel, led the second prayer session where the workers were instructed to pray “that we get our hazard allowance and prayer to avert government’s planned retrenchment of non teaching staff.
“Also let’s pray for our present management for them to continue to do us well.”
It was gathered that the prayer session lasted for about 50 minutes after torrents of speaking in tongues and wailing.
After the prayer session, Adewole was called upon to address the workers.
The VC assured them that the government will not retrench any UI worker.
He said: “Let me praise NASU (Non Academic Staff Union) for this initiative.
“It is the first time in the history of this university that the workers are organising a prayer session.
“I am a comrade and the Registrar and DVC Academics are comrades too.
“Let me sound it clearly: the Federal Government cannot retrench workers in UI because we have not exceeded our percentage of recruitment.
“So you don’t have to worry.
“UI is the only university that has no ad hoc staff.
“So be rest assured that you will not be sacked.”
Adewole admonished the workers to read Phillipians 4 verse 8 in the Bible.
However, despite the VC’s assurance, the leadership of the unions informed the staff to be on the alert for a nationwide strike.
Comrade A. Fatoki, the NASU president, UI chapter, said: “We have prayed.
“We have people on the mountain still praying and government will not deny us our inalienable rights.
“Let there be an SSS (State Security Service) person here, I don’t care.
“I stand by the truth.
“(President Goodluck) Jonathan’s government is the worst government Nigeria has produced.
“How can he be a part of the government in 2009 that signed an agreement with us but now that he is the president he has refused to honour and implement that agreement?
“This government cannot be trusted and they have been dilly dallying.
“You have been placed on alert and as soon as we get the nod from our national body, we will embark on a total strike very soon.
“Although the government will be meeting with our leaders today (Friday) but if nothing comes out of the meeting, we will begin the strike.”
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