The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said that contrary to the claim of the Federal Government, the union’s demands are yet to be met.
This was stated by Prof. Akinwole Ayoola, ASUU Chairman, University of Ibadan, on Monday, noting that the government was making false claims to win public support.
He expressed the resolve of members to continue the struggle until public universities get needed support from the government to make them globally competitive.
Ayoola said, “Nigerians should disregard the lies of the Federal Government. The Federal Government is far from meeting any of the union’s seven demands.
“The union gave 14-month strike notice to Federal Government before commencing the strike in 2022. Even the effort of the Nigerian Inter-Religious council in 2021 yielded no results before the union was forced to declare the strike on February 14, 2022.
“We waited for 14 months from December 2020 to February 2022 before declaring this strike. I am saying 14 months’ notice, 14 months of engagements, and the Nigeria Inter-Religious council intervened in 2021 when we would have declared the strike. We gave them one month with no results. Heroes are gone before they are appreciated but our union will not die. We will not die. We are going to be alive to see this struggle through.”
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He said that the government arrived at the N1.1 trillion naira for revitalisation of universities through the Needs Assessment report, based on the level of infrastructural deterioration across public varsities.
He lauded ASUU members for their commitment and sacrifices to ensure the university system was repositioned.
Ayoola added, “If ASUU does not go on this struggle, there will be no university for new people to attend. In the last 25 years, Federal Government will not spend money on their university unless ASUU goes on strike. Does that show they are responsible?
“I am also a parent and my children are home with me. Most lecturers have to spend their money on their students’ projects for some students to graduate. I could give you the numbers of some of my students who can tell you how much I have had to support their projects.
Source: Punch
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