THERE is no end in sight to the lingering varsity teachers’ strike, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) said through his Abuja Zonal Coordinator Prof. Theophilus Lagi on Tuesday.
He attributed the decision not to suspend the eight-month-old job boycott was due to alleged lack of commitment on the part of the Federal Government.
Lagi spoke at a news conference at Gwagwalada, Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday urged the striking lecturers to return to classrooms.
The President gave the order at the 72nd Foundation Day/Convocation ceremonies of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
“This (disruption of calendar) is as a result of strikes by university-based unions particularly members of the academic staff union,” the President said.
In the Abuja Zone under Lagi are the Federal University of Technology, Minna; Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai; Federal University of Lafia, and University of Abuja.
According to him, the strike had since February because the government has not shown commitment or willingness towards addressing the union’s core demands for students to resume studies.
He reminded members of the union of the advice to seek other legitimate means of survival as the government has not released salaries withheld since February, 2020.
Lagi said: “Today, we wish to let Nigerians, especially our students and parents know that there is no hope in sight to ending or suspending the ASUU strike that lingered for long.
“Government is yet to show serious commitment towards addressing our core demands.
“He has now become the spokesperson to the accountant General of the Federation and Ministry of finance, instead of finding solution for lecturers to get back to work.
“He is turning the wheel of progress backwards by setting ASUU on collision with other pressure groups in the university.
“In the past few weeks for instance, Ngige has said one thing when he met with the union and a different thing on the same subject in an interview with the media.
He described as worrisome not only to students but parents who patronise public varsities the attitude of the minister as a negotiator in the face-off.
“On this, we will like to educate the honourable minister that public universities in Nigeria are creatures of law as each university is established by an Act enacted by the National Assembly,” he said.
He however, called on the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement, payment and mainstreaming of Earned Academic Allowances into salaries, release of funds for revitalisation of the Nigerian university system among others.
The coordinator condemned the alleged invitation of the military by the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) authority to conduct the 2019/2020 first semester examinations.
He said “such involvement of the military crack team in a normal University function is primitive and height of insult and lack of regard to the Academia in Nigeria.
“The union wishes to call on the authorities at ESUT to refrain from the ugly trend because we do not want a repeat of 1976 in Nigerian universities.”
Ordering ASUU members back to work, Buhari said the teachers have been on strike since February over more of payment of salaries and emoluments as well as funding and sundry issues.
He said: “We recognise the rights of workers to express their grievances, through lawful actions, including strikes.
“However, there is a reciprocal obligation on the part of workers and unions to ensure the survival and sustainability of their places of employment.
“Strike action tends to compound the problems in the education sector. The current strike by university teachers has gone on for too long and caused enough devastation in lives of students and the universities alike.
“I urge university teachers to return to their classrooms and seek further accommodation with the government, from the productive ambience of their campuses.”
Buhari also vowed to sanction members of the university community found to be violating the selection process of new vice chancellors, stressing that the process is meant to be open and transparent and credible enough to produce best candidates.
The President said: “Let me add that government is particularly worried about the avalanche of petitions, many bordering on serious allegations of bribery and corruption as well as disrespect for due process, in the course of selecting a new vice-chancellor in some of our federal universities.
“Government has set in motion several mechanisms to monitor the selection process with a view to taking appropriate measures to ensure that the processes are conducted in an open, fair and transparent manner and that all violators are properly sanctioned.”
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University, Nde Joshua Waklek, called for more government support to enhance the capacity of varsities in human capital development.
The Vice Chancellor Prof. Idowu Olayinka appealed to the President to support the institution with rehabilitation funds.
A total of 57 graduands in various disciplines were awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
Four persons were conferred with honorary doctorate degrees. They are Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, who was awarded Doctor of Letters, Dr. Layiwola Fatona (Doctor of Science); Chief Comfort Idowu (Doctor of Science) and Mr. John Coumantaros (Doctor of Letters).
