By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday, warned the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State Owned Universities in Nigeria (COPSON) “to stop playing to the gallery and learn from their counterparts in Federal Universities who are impressing it on government government to do the needful for public universities
The union in a statement by the Convener, ASUU Rapid Response, Professor Ade Adejumo lashed out at COPSON for its hard stance on the union.
ASUU in the statement entitled “COPSON: Stoking the Blaze of Discord”, declared that no amount of threats will make the Union stop fighting for quality education and welfare of her members.
According to the union, “COPSON needs to understand that the principle of collective bargaining is sanctioned by the law, adding it was wrong for COPSON to be claiming that “collectively agreed negotiations will not be binding on them .
” There is the need for COPSON to explain why have they not insisted that policies and directives of central regulatory bodies like JAMB, NUC and NYSC are not binding on them?” he said
Professor Adejumo added, “ASUU is one, a thousand communiques and threats from COPSON cannot break our ranks and iron resolve to see this struggle and any other one in the future to its successful end”.
“ASUU asked the Pro-Chancellors to provide evidences where they have improved the salaries and welfare of their school but are always eager to run to Abuja to collect money from TETFUND which was brought into existence by ASUU, but only wonders whether some people’s consciences go on holiday when they sit down to make certain pronouncements”
ASUU noted ” these indeed are grave moments. Ominous signs on the horizon for our education system. The latest assault on the university system in Nigeria is captured by the communique released by the committee of Pro-Chancellors of state Universities. The ” fatuwah” declared on the principle of collective bargaining by a duly registered Union like ASUU for its members is quite worrisome.”
” If we may ask, what is the function of a Union if not to see to the welfare of its members? Why is COPSON fixated on the curious idea that centrally negotiated salaries by ASUU with government will not be binding on them when they have always been represented in such negotiations?
” Why have they not insisted that policies and directives of central regulatory bodies like JAMB, NUC and NYSC are not binding on them? Why is COPSON behaving like Chichidudu of Ayi Kwei Armah’s tale? For clarity, chichidudu is a bird that hates excreta with passion, but feeds on the maggots that grow out of fecal wastes.
The union stressed, ” what is expected of COPSON at this critical junction is to borrow a leaf from their colleagues at the Federal Universities by calling on the government to do the needful to address issues in ASUU demands rather than stoking the embers of a simmering blaze aa they have done here. For their information, let it be stated here that ASUU is one, a thousand communiques and threats from COPSON cannot break our ranks and iron resolve to see this struggle and any other one in the future to its successful end.”
