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… Accuses govt of subjecting members to untold hardship, poverty
By Gabriel Dike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday described as false the claim by the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, that the union submitted a position proposal, which the Federal Government is currently working on to address their numerous demands.
The union also accused the Federal Government of subjecting its members to untold hardship and poverty, resulting in members lecturing students on an empty stomach.
The ASUU Coordinator, Lagos Zone, Prof. Adesola Nassir, disclosed this in Lagos while briefing newsmen on the ongoing mobilisation of members and Nigerians over the government’s attitude towards the union’s outstanding demands.
At the briefing, which was attended by seven universities in the zone, a former ASUU national Treasurer, former Lagos Zonal Coordinator, denied the education minister’s position that the union submitted a proposal for government attention.
He stated, “Let me say it categorically that ASUU does not have any position proposal. ASUU has no position proposal with the Federal Government. For the minister to describe the government’s position paper as ASUU’s own is mischievous
He added: “We are also perturbed by the minister’s statement on the plan of government to present a counter position to Yayale Ahmed’s renegotiated document, erroneously referred to as ASUU’s proposal. This position not only rubbishes the integrity of the representative of the government on the renegotiation team but also affirms that they do not have the mandate of the government to renegotiate with ASUU.
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“The Yayale Ahmed submitted document is a product of eight years of painstaking negotiation that spanned four chairpersons. Our members are tired of this rhetoric from the minister. Any attempt to rubbish years of perseverance and further entrench poverty within our fold would be met with stiff resistance. We urge the intergovernmental committee to be mindful of what they will come up with, as our union has reached the limit of oppression.’’
According to him, the demands of the union have been placed before the government for resolution, insisting members have displayed rare patience and perseverance, which the government took as complacency and vowed that it will take its destiny into its hands.
Nassir said the government has failed to implement the 2009 renegotiated agreement has subjected students and staff to untold hardship and excoriating poverty.
“The right of ASUU to embark on strike when all efforts yield no meaningful results is recognised by the labour laws. Our members are being owed various entitlements, including third-party deductions made by the corrupt and discredited IPPIS, promotion arrears of up to four years, arrears of wage award and palliative,’’ he argued.
The ASUU coordinator stressed that when the education minister expressed the wish of the government that there would be no strike by unions in the tertiary institutions, one would expect the government to match their words with action.
On the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), Nassir described the programme as wrapped in mediocrity, entrenched in tokenism and incongruous, warning, “Our union will not be part of such. Government has the responsibility to assist its employees, but loans cannot be a substitute for a living wage.”
Nassir implored Nigerians to prevail on the government to call all its agencies involved in resolving this impasse to avert industrial action and allow peace to return to the university system.
