“stages protest rally
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Academic Staff of Universities (ASUU) Chairman, University of Ibadan Branch, Professor Ayoola Akinwole on Monday, alerted that the Federal Government is presently waging war against the union and public universities in the country.
Addressing a press conference in Ibadan at a Stakeholders Congress and Protest Rally held across the University of Ibadan campus by the union and students leaders , the ASUU Chairman said Federal Government is out on a mission to destroy public universities in Nigeria.
Professor Akinwole maintained that the Federal Government is now carrying out the alleged ploy through inadequate funding, and through its on going war against ASUU, saying, the ” war against ASUU by the Government and the Nigerian elites has manifested in various ways”
According to the ASUU Chairman, the ways included ” violation and repudiation of all extant agreements reached with Union, Forcing the union into strike
Prolonging the strike by its inaction and victimization of ASUU members for embarking on strike, which they were forced into by the negligence and inaction by the government”.
He emphasized that the ” protest has become necessary due to our conviction that the Federal Government is on a mission to destroy the public universities through inadequate funding, and through its war against ASUU”
” In addition to the foregoing, ASUU members are being treated differently from members of other unions that also embarked on strike to press home their demands. For instance, the members of the Research Institutes embarked on twelve-month strike and their salaries were payed throughout the period they were on strike” he said.
Professor Akinwole added ” on the contrary, the salaries of ASUU members were stopped a month into the strike and members were expected to starve to death. This is evidence of double standard, inconsistency and selective treatment meted out to ASUU members by the Government.”
” Similarly, Government has surreptitiously appropriated funds belonging to ASUU and its members. For instance, the government deducted check-off dues for the months of March, September and October 2022 without remitting same to the Union.”
He noted, ” this was also the case in 2020 when about three months’ ASUU check-off dues were deducted by the Government without remitting to the Union. The only explanation for this is that the government is hell-bent on destroying ASUU in order to have the freedom to destroy the public universities.
Professor Akinwole said further, ” as a Union of intellectuals, it is our historical responsibility to protect the public universities from collapse and fight for the interest of our members as well as the interests of the Nigerians students. All these considerations necessitate today’s protest.”
During the protest staged across the University campus, the ASUU members and the students were seen carrying placards condemning FG decision on the half salary and other issues.
” Similarly, Government has surreptitiously appropriated funds belonging to ASUU and its members. For instance, the government deducted check-off dues for the months of March, September and October 2022 without remitting same to the Union. This was also the case in 2020 when about three months’ ASUU check-off dues were deducted by the Government without remitting to the Union. The only explanation for this is that the government is hell-bent on destroying ASUU in order to have the freedom to destroy the public universities”.
