*asks Malam Alli to stay away from crisis over strike
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Sunday,
said that the union has disagreement with the Federal Government, over an agreement which the Federal Government has failed, refused and neglected to implement.
The union made this clarification in a statement in Ibadan to caution the Pro Chancellor of Osun State University, Malam Yusuf Alli (SAN) to stay away from his alleged attack on the union over its on going strike
ASUU in the statement, signed by the Lagos Zonal ASUU Coordinator, Dr. Adelaja Odukoya alleged that the Osun State University Pro Chancellor of allegedly mounting hatred for ASUU union on the on going strike by the union members.
The union emphasized that as far as the union is concerned, no amount of negative propaganda against the union will do any magic in resolving the on going nationwide strike
” ASUU is neither unnecessarily belligerent nor happy that our public universities have been shut for over 200 days, however, it is important to state that in resolving the current impasse, no amount of bellicosity and negative propaganda against our union will do any magic. Our members as teachers and parents are no less concerned that a simple matter has been allowed to fester this long by those who should know better”, it said.
ASUU added, ” We love Nigeria and our patriotic struggle is aimed at ensuring that Nigeria takes its assured place in the comity of civilized nations by fixing her public university system in the interest of all.”
” For the umpteenth time, we wish to state that at no time did our union have any disagreement with the Federal Government, all we had was an agreement which the Federal Government has regrettably failed, refused and neglected to implement! “
ASUU in the statement pointed out that the union has no personal grudge against Mallam Alli adding, ” lastly, our union has no personal grudge against Mallam Yusuf Ali, but will not sit idly watching his unprovoked ‘public enemy’ stance”.
” With due respect to the learned silk, his stance on the current crisis in the Nigerian public university system is insensitive, self-serving, retrogressive and capable of introducing a dangerous dimension to the already volatile situation.
” To start with, Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN, for whatever reason, nurses a king-size grudge and animosity against ASUU, which he takes pleasure at reviling at the drop of the hat. Recently, he showed his hands as one of the secret sponsors of the ill-fated Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), when he came out calling for the registration of the group.”
ASUU maintained that Mallam Alli’s alleged ” threat that state universities will not respect the outcomes of ASUU/Government negotiations is a regrettable betrayal and scant respect for the principles of labour relations, especially as it relates to the fixing of emoluments for workers operating under the umbrella of a trade union like ASUU and its members”
” Without exaggeration, six-five (65%) percent of the major structures in the six campuses of UNIOSUN and indeed the main campus, Oshogbo, ranging from lecture theatres, laboratories, offices and other central infrastructure are TETFUND and NEEDS Assessment projects” and that “similarly, 70% of staff who obtained higher degrees abroad are through TETFUND interventions.”
ASUU stated, ” Mallam Yusuf Ali should clear his mind of the cobwebs of ASUU hatred and realise that he is operating in a rule-governed system, not a slave camp where the capricious whims of a dictator hold sway.”
