Threat is empty basket, says ASUU

 

ASUU President Fagge

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday described the Federal Government’s threat to sack lecturers as an “empty basket” that could not hold water.

The union said it was vindicated that the government was not committed to implementing any resolutions it reached with the union.

The union said the threat would fail, adding that Nigerian public universities needed 60,000 lecturers owing to the government’s failure to employ.

ASUU said the government was wasting the time of Nigerians and youths by failing to perfect the resolutions and get the strike suspended.

The union said it had reasons to be wary, following the government’s failure to honour its promises to the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), resident doctors and health workers who have suspended their strikes.

To ASUU, the threat is an insult to the sense and sensibilities of Nigerians who were waiting on the government for positive reaction.

ASUU National Treasurer Dr Ademola Aremu said that the threat confirmed the fears that the government cannot be trusted.

His words: “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 200billion is for 2012 and 2013 revitalisation, the Federal Government should deposit same in the Central Bank of Nigeria. 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 military era. The military tried it and failed. This one will fail again. They can re-open the school. ASUU did not shut down the universities. It was the school management that ordered the students to go back home.”

Aremu said it is only when ASUU proceeds on strike that funds get to universities which are then presided over by political appointee tagged “committee of pro-chancellors”.

Aremu lashed out at the supervising Minister for Education, Nyesom Wike, saying the government was not responsible if it could wait for four months to take any step and scuttle it through military orders.

“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. Under the military it did not work. This is another long path to make the strike linger more than necessary,” Aremu said.

The University of Abuja chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday said nobody can intimidate the teachers.

Its Chairman Dr. Clement Chup said: “We have not seen anybody that will intimidate us to go back to work. The strike continues. Government is calling for trouble.

“It has shown clearly now that government is not willing 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.

“No retreat, no surrender until the 2009 agreements are met. They can re-open 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.”

Prof. Fred Esumeh, chairman of Ambrose Alli University ASUU said the Minister could only give directives to university management and not to union members.

“If they consider it wise to open the university, they should have made arrangement to recruit teachers to complete the session.”

“It shows the government is not sincere towards implementing the agreement. Why did the president find it difficult to put our agreement at the 13 hours meeting in black and white.”

Chairman of UNIBEN-ASUU, Dr. Tony Monye said the government could keep its job because they have resolved that they could not continue working under present conditions.

“They can’t force us back. The Minister did not send us on strike. Let us see how they are going to enforce it.”