The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), says there
is no hope in sight to suspend its lingering strike due to alleged lack of
commitment by the Federal Government
Prof. Theophilus Lagi, the ASUU, Abuja Zonal Coordinator,
disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday at Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The ASUU, Abuja Zone, comprises the Federal University of
Technology, Minna; Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Babangida
University, Lapai; Federal University of Lafia, and the University of Abuja.
Lagi said the strike had lingered for several months as the
government had yet to show any serious commitment or willingness towards
addressing the unions core demands for students to resume studies.
According to him, members of the union have been advised to
seek other legitimate means of survival as the government has not released
salaries withheld since February 2020.
“Today, we wish to let Nigerians especially our students and
parents know that there is no hope in sight to ending or suspending the ASUU
strike that lingered for long.
“Government is yet to show serious commitment towards
addressing our core demands.
“One needs not to be a psychologist to understand the
behaviour and recent utterances of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr
Chris Ngige, by showing his disdain for Nigerian Academics and has failed to
play the role of an unbiased umpire in moderating the imbroglio.
“He has now become the spokesperson to the accountant
General of the Federation and Ministry of finance, instead of finding a
solution for lecturers to get back to work.
“He is turning the wheel of progress backwards by setting
ASUU on collision with other pressure groups in the University.
“In the past few weeks, for instance, Ngige has said one
thing when he met with the Union and a different thing on the same subject in
an interview with the media.
“This double character of a Minister and a purported
negotiator in the face-off should be a source of worry to not only Nigerian
students but parents who patronise public universities.
“On this, we will like to educate the honourable Minister
that public universities in Nigeria are creatures of law as each University is
established by an Act enacted by the National Assembly,” he said.
Lagi maintained that in spite of agitations with a
comprehensive and indefinite strike to compel the federal government to address
its core demands, the government had not shown any commitment.
He, however, called on the renegotiation of the 2009
agreement, payment and mainstreaming of earned academic allowances into
salaries, the release of funds for the revitalisation of the Nigerian
university system among others.
The coordinator condemned the event at Enugu State
University of Science and Technology (ESUT) where the authority allegedly
invited the military to assist in the conduct of the 2019/2020 first semester
examinations.
“Another bizarre turn of event is unfolding at the Enugu
State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, where a letter written by the
Ag. Registrar, Barr. T. M Ikpenwa on 12th November 2020 inviting the 103
Battalion of the Nigerian Army to assist in the organisation and conduct of the
2019/2020 First semester Examinations.
“Such involvement of the military crack team in a normal
University function is primitive and height of insult and lack of regard to the
Academia in Nigeria.
“The union wishes to call on the authorities at ESUT to
refrain from the ugly trend because we do not want a repeat of 1976 in Nigerian
universities,” he said.
He described the University Transparency and Accountability
Solution (UTAS) as better suited in the University system, as it recognised all
agreements entered into between the government and university-based Trade
Unions.
Ladi noted that the UTAS platform ensured simultaneous
payments of employees salaries and third party deductions like tax, pension,
Union dues, cooperatives and bank loans.
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You cannot move forward when you're negotiating with like of Ngife and the minister of state for Education. You will know when they're serious NBuhari and the substantive minister of education will invite ASUU for talks.
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