By Hosea parah, Abuja
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday called on Nigerians of goodwill, in the interest of our students and the nation to prevail on Nigerian government to urgently address all outstanding issues contained in the December 2020 FGN-ASUU Memorandum of Action.
In a statement issued by the NEC President, Emmanuel Osodeke on Monday 5th, 2022 during
National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held at the University of Calabar, to reviewed the current state of their struggle and how to resolved.
The Union lamented over the systematic disengagement of government from funding of Public Universities through the proposed introduction of education loan which has proven to be a monumental failure in our nation and some other countries where it was introduced.
The Union president stated that the Union is disturbed by the surreptitious moves by the government to price university education beyond the reach of the poor Nigerian students and their parents through the introduction of various charges. We commend student bodies who have seen through this ruinous path and are rising up to the challenge.
Osodeke explained that the Union calls the attention of Nigerians to the lingering issue of renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement which was the initial issue that led to the just suspended strike action. More worrisome is the increasing anti-labour posture of government, suggestive of attempts to abrogate the principle of collective bargaining agreement.
“NEC rejects in totality government’s arrogant insistence on handling down an award instead of a bargained salary package. “
He added that the Union reviewed and condemned government’s attempt to casualize the job of
intellectuals, as reflected in the pro-rated salaries paid to our members for the month of October 2022, as well as the continued withholding of our members salaries for the
preceding eight (8) months, even when the backlog of the work are being covered by our
members in various universities.
“NEC rejects with vehemence, the current attempts to impose master-slave treatment as mechanism for relating with Nigerian scholars under whatever guise by the ruling class. ASUU members are citizens, not slaves.” He said.
He therefore, appreciates the resilience of the union members and their families. Their understanding and perseverance, in the face of hardship and provocation occasioned by government’s intransigence and insensitivity, shall be rewarded by posterity.