Gbenro Adesina
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Wednesday September 30, 2020 revealed that the union would not suspend its on-going strike until government pays outstanding three-to-seven months withheld salaries, approve University Transparency and Accountability Solutions (UTAS) and implement the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement.
ASUU in a release by the Zonal Coordinator of the Ibadan Zone of the Union, Professor Ade Adejumo, lambasted the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige for lying on a Channels TV Programme that government was not owing lecturers.
According to ASUU, Federal Government agencies have been foot-dragging on early resolution of the on-going strike anchored on implementation of outstanding components of the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement, revitalisation funding of Universities, unpaid earned academic allowances and renegotiation of the agreement for upward review of salaries of lecturers to conform with contemporary reality.
ASUU stated that postcolonial Nigerian governments’ attack on the education sector contributed to the under development of the nation, adding that this was the reason why the government has become a shadow of itself.
“It should be noted that ASUU went on strike as a result of the combination of three inter-related factors: Nigerian governments’ increasing anti-labour policies and the history of sabotage in the education sector and the government’s refusal to honour the agreement reached with the union for revitalisation of public sector universities. ASUU is particularly disappointed because we assumed that government’s public outlook was based on the anti-corruption constantly orchestrated by this government”, Adejumo said.
The ASUU boss lashed out at the Buhari-led Government for being insensitive to education and for the inhuman treatment of lecturers and the knowledge industry.
The Union stressed that the on-going strike would not be called off until government proactively respond to the demands of the union and make knowledge industry a priority adding, “Hence, government and the ministries involved need to do the needful, i.e. meet with ASUU in order for academic activities to resume. The starting point for this is the payment of withheld salaries of academics in Nigeria’s public universities”.
