Okolie told newsmen at Nsukka that the boycott was in compliance with the directive of the national leadership of ASUU for members to stay at home on Thursday.
He said it was to show solidarity with their striking colleagues at Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) over subversion of laws at the university by Rivers Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
``After our congress on Tuesday, we resolved to carry out the one-day solidarity strike in support of ASUU-RSUST strike over misuse of power by that state governor in appointing the vice-chancellor.
``Any ASUU member who attends the 69th inaugural lecture or participates in any activity today in UNN has disobeyed the one-day strike order and will be sanctioned by the union.
``We have communicated our stay away directive on the 69th inaugural lecture to the university management.
``The union’s monitoring team is already at work to fish out erring members,” he said.
According to him, the union has nothing against the lecturer of the 69th inaugural, Prof. Patience Osadebe, but was obeying the national directive of ASUU.
He said ASUU would take further action if after the one-day strike the governing council and the governor failed to obey the laws in the appointment of the vice-chancellor of RSUST.
``National Assembly has a law signed by President Goodluck Jonathan that VCs should spend only single tenure of five years and RSUST will not be an exception.
``The Acting VC, Prof B. Fakae, has no business in RSUST hence he had exhausted his five-year tenure; appointing him for second term amounts to illegality.
``ASUU calls on the good people of Rivers State and Nigeria to prevail on the governor to restore the rule of law and decency in the governance of RSUST.
``We call on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the incident that happened at RSUST on Aug.15, in which some ASUU members were assaulted,” he said.
When contacted, Prof. Obi Njoku, Chairman, UNN Senate Ceremonial Committee, who is in-charge of inaugural lectures, said he was not aware that ASUU-UNN members were boycotting the 69th inaugural lecture.
``I do not have to comment much on this issue because I have not been officially informed.
``It will be unfair if they boycott lecture just because of ASUU’s one-day strike,” he said.
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