The Academic Staff Union of Universities
has said the Federal Government’s
December 4 ultimatum issued to
universities teachers to return to the
classrooms is a clear indication that the
government is not committed to
implementing any of the resolutions it
reached with the union.
While reacting to the threat of the Federal
Government to sack the lecturers if they
fail to call off their five-month strike by
Wednesday nest week, ASUU National
Treasurer, Dr. Ademola Aremu, said the
union was shocked that the government
could have such plan when there was a
shortfall of 60,000 lecturers in Nigerian
universities, owing to the government’s
failure to employ enough teachers.
He added that the threat would not hinder
the union’s determination to ensure that
Nigerian universities were well funded.
He said, “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 a military
era. The military tried it and failed. This
one will fail again. They can re-open the
schools. ASUU did not shut the
universities; it was the school
management that ordered the students to
go back home.”
ASUU added that the FG was wasting the
time of Nigerians and youths in the
country by failing to perfect the
resolutions so that classes could resume
in the schools.
Making reference to the failure of the
government to honour the agreements it
entered with resident doctors and health
workers after they suspended their strikes,
the union said it had reasons to be wary
of the government, adding that the threat
was an insult to the sensibilities of
Nigerians who were waiting for the
government for a positive reaction.
“With the latest action, the government
has shown that it is not committed to all
it has been saying. We are saying that
since we agreed at the meeting that the
sum of N200bn is for 2012 and 2013
revitalisation, the government should
deposit same in the Central Bank of
Nigerian. 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?” Aremu said.
http://www.punchng.com/news/ASUU-
dismisses-fgs-threat-to-sack-lecturers/
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