The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reacted to the Federal Government’s directive that lecturers in the nation’s federal universities should return to work within a week, saying that the threat would fail.
The Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, directed Vice Chancellors of all Federal Universities to sack any lecturer that fails to return to work latest by December 4.
He also directed that the position of such lecturer (s) should be advertised forthwith. ASUU declared nationwide strike on July 1, following government’s inability to honour the agreements it reached with the Union is 2009.
Reacting to this development, Dr Ademola Aremu, ASUU National Treasurer, said the Minister’s order has exposed the present administration as unserious and also confirmed their fears that the government cannot be trusted.
He wondered why the federal government would be considering sacking lecturers when part of the union’s complaints has always been that the Universities are under-staffed with qualified teachers.
Dr Aremu reminded Minister Wike who dished out the order that the military tried it but it failed. According to him, “With the latest action, the federal government has shown that they are not committed to all they have been saying.
“We are saying that since we agreed at the meeting that the sum of 200 billion naira is for 2012 and 2013 revitalisation, the federal 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?
“We are saying the non-victimization clause should be included as agreed while the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement should be included as agreed with the presidents”.
“It is a pity if the federal government is not willing to perfect the resolutions reached with 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 military era. The military tried it and failed. This one will fail again. They can re-open the school.
“ASUU did not shut down the universities. It was the management of the schools that ordered the students to go back home,” he said.
