The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has dispelled with a wave of the hand, yesterday’s Federal Government order that lecturers in federal universities should resume their jobs by 4th December 2013 else their offices would be declared vacant and advertised.
According to the union, this is only an “empty basket” that holds no water and further vindicates its conviction that the government lacks the commitment to implement any of the resolutions it reached with the union.
It added that considering that public universities need 60,000 lecturers at the moment due to the government’s failure to employ, there is no ways lecturers could be sacked and then replaced.
“With the latest action, the Federal Government has shown that they are not committed to all they have been saying. We are saying that since we agreed at the meeting that the sum of 200bn is for 2012 and 2013 revitalisation, the Federal Government should deposit same in the Central Bank of Nigeria”, ASUU National Treasurer, Dr. Ademola Aremu said.
“We are already in November and December is around the corner. If they don’t do that now, when do they want to do it? We are saying the non-victimisation clause should be included as agreed, while the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement should be included as agreed with the president.
“It is a pity if the Federal Government is not willing to perfect the resolutions reached with the union. This is why we find it difficult to trust our leaders by their words. How can someone be threatening to sack lecturers when universities are already short-staffed by almost 60,000. We are not in the military era. The military tried it and failed. This one will fail again. They can reopen the school. ASUU did not shut down the universities. It was the school management that ordered the students to go back home”.
Aremu lamented that funds never reach universities unless ASUU has embarked on an industrial action; and even in those cases, the funds are presided over by political appointees under the guise of Committee of Pro-chancellors.
“We are saying show commitment to the resolutions. They should address the issue we sent to them in the letter and we are not demanding extra kobo”, he added. “Under the Military it did not work. This is another long path to make the strike linger more than necessary”.
Similarly, the University of Abuja chapter of the union maintained that it would not intimidated by the threat of the federal government.
According to Chairman of the chapter, Dr. Clement Chup, the threat has shown clearly that government is unwilling to implement the 2009 agreement.
“This is another bad move by government. We are not afraid of sack, which can never happen. It is just a threat. We are ready for the outcome of this action by government and I hope government can bear it”, he said.
“No retreat, no surrender until the [provisions of the] 2009 agreement are met. They can reopen the school. ASUU did not shut down the universities. It was the management of the schools that ordered the students to go back home. Let us how this will play out”.
