BY SEYIFUNMI LUMEKO
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Federal Government of using hunger to coerce its members to call off the industrial action.
The union said the use of hunger to coerce members of ASUU to suspend its indefinite strike failed in the past and definitely will not yield any fruitful result now.
It equally pointed out that this present government ploy to deliberately deprive Nigerian youths of access to qualitative education.
ASUU on Wednesday in a statement jointly signed by Kano University of Science and Technology, chapter Chairman, Muhammad Sani Gaya and Secretary, Murtala Muhammad, said the body language and antics of the government were indications that it was out to completely destroy tertiary education in the country.
“We are prepared and determined to continue enduring the torture and negative media campaign against our struggle in order to liberate ourselves, the young and upcoming generations of Nigerians from the deliberate efforts to deny them access to quality and affordable education.
‘’Indeed, education is the only weapon that can change society, denying our youth education is akin to destroying the nation. The intention of the FG to destroy university education in Nigeria should be vehemently resisted,’’ the statement said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the union is resolute, determined, focused and ready to continue the struggle in order to salvage the Nigerian public universities from imminent collapse.
‘’Unfortunately, the FG is blessed with enough wrong people at the right places. Irritably, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, is badly informed of the university system and dilettante with the primary duties of an academic staff. The public may note that based on laws establishing universities, an academic staff is employed to teach, conduct research and render community service. So, when ASUU embarked on strike, only the teaching component stopped, thus, the issue of imposing “no work no pay” doesn’t rightly and legally apply to academic staff,’’ the union said.
Nigeria’s universities have been on strike since February 2022.
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