Chairman, University of Ibadan
chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Deji Omole has
described the federal government as shameless for owing lecturers seven years
of unpaid earned academic allowances and still want them to continue to work
for free while the Presidency and the National Assembly feed fat on the wealth
of the nation.
Omole made this declaration while
reacting to a memo which directed Vice Chancellors of universities to implement
the “no work, no pay” policy on the sticking lecturers across the country.
The Federal Government, it was
gathered had directed Vice Chancellors of striking public universities across
the country to enforce “no-work-no-pay” rule on the striking lecturers.
The memo which was signed by NUC
Director of Research, Information and Technology Dr S.B Ramon-Yusuf stated that
payment of salaries from any other sources will be viewed as a violation of
extant rules and government directive.
It will be recalled that ASUU had on Sunday, November 4th this
year, declared indefinite and total strike over issues bothering on welfare of
its members, infrastructure and non-implementation of some agreements made to
the union by the federal government.
But, Omole in a statement on Friday evening said it is sad that a government that prides
itself as having integrity has shamefully shown that it lacks integrity by
failing to honour agreements reached with the union and resorted to harassment
and intimidation of ”our members on a patriotic struggle to save public
education in Nigeria. ”
He said that the directive will
add fuel to the struggle as academic staff have resolved to get proper
education for the children of the masses.
According to Omole, the Military
government tried unsuccessfully to intimidate the collective will of Nigerian
masses, adding that members of the union have resolved to fight for the future
of the country.
Omole said, “We have passed this
road before. It is a familiar terrain which we can navigate with our eyes
closed.
“We shall triumph any attempt to
destroy the common patrimony”. The power of the people is stronger than the
people in power.”
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