- Pleads for Understanding With Students, Parents
THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has condemned the federal government for treating academics like casual workers, describing it as “unprecedented in the history of university-oriented labour relations.”
ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, in a press release on Tuesday following the union’s emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Monday said the decision of the federal government to pay “academics on “pro-rata” is an “attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers in its entirety.”
While the union did not openly reveal any resolution or step in response to the perceived wrong by the federal government, Prof Osodeke, however, appealed to students, parents and other genuinely concerned individuals and groups in the press release, entitled; “We Are Intellectuals, Not Casual Workers,” for the understanding as it “continues to pursue positive resolution of this avoidable crisis within the ambit of legality without compromising the interests and welfare of Nigerian intellectuals.”
‘Technical’ strike
A reliable source in ASUU confided in National Record that though the union is not disposed to openly declare another strike, the appeal it made in the press release to students and parents amongst others, is an is an indicator that the union is technically on strike.
According to the source, the carefully crafted and terse press release is weighty and a reflection of the inner feelings of disappointment by ASUU members who swallowed their anger over years of government’s violation of collectively bargained agreements.
Prior to ASUU’s emergency NEC held at the Festus Iyayi National Secretariat of the union at the main campus of the university of Abuja, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof Tanko Ishaya, had disclosed that lecturers of the institution resolved to teach students from home because of financial difficulties faced by the academic staff.
The Vice-Chancellor’s disclosure came two days after the Unijos branch of ASUU had issued a notice of stay at home until their withheld salaries were paid.
In an interactive session with journalists held at the University, the Vice Chancellor said to the best of the management’s knowledge, the academic staff decided to teach from their homes, and not that they had gone on strike. “We have presented at the Senate that if for instance, the lecturers are not paid when academic activities resumed, we planned that they can continue with their academic activities virtually.
“The Senate has adopted that where academic staff find it difficult as a result of lack of payment of salaries, they can do their lectures from home using technology. And we have put in all plans concerning virtual platforms to ensure both academic staff and students can engage.
“That is my understanding of the action of the ASUU chapter of the University of Jos which is in line with what the Senate of the University has approved with respect to staying at home because of the difficulties of transporting themselves to the University.”
Prof Ishaya appealed to government to reconsider its “no-work-no-pay policy” as the work of the academic staff was beyond teaching in classrooms but included research and community services which he believed that the lecturers engaged in such activities even during the prolonged strike.
Why ASUU suspended strike
Prof Osodeke, in the press release, condensed the rational for the ASUU’s suspension of its 8-month strike on the basis of rule of law.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suspended its eight-month strike on 14th October, 2022, in obedience to the order of the National Industrial Court and in further consideration of intervention efforts of well-meaning Nigerians, including the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
“The action of the Union was a display of manifest trust in the judiciary and other institutions and organs of government to always put national interest above all other considerations. This we believe, as a union of thinkers, intellectuals, and patriots, will not only aid the process of amicable resolution of the crisis, but will also set the tone for smooth industrial relations between Government and Nigerian workers at large.
“Unfortunately, the response of government towards ASUU’s demonstration of trust was the so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for eighteen days as the October 2022 salaries of academics thereby portraying them as daily paid workers! This is not only an aberration, but a contravention of all known rules of engagement in any contract of employment for academics the world over,” Osodeke stated.
ASUU PRESS RELEASE – WE ARE INTELLECTUALS, NOT CASUAL WORKERS 7TH NOVEMBER, 2022
