By Niyi Akande
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest, over pending unmet demands of the union by the Federal Government.
The protesters bearing placards with inscriptions such as, ‘IPPIS is a scam,’ ‘pay all our outstanding promotion arrears,’ ‘FG give our children proper education,’ ‘enough is enough, govern us, not oppress us,’ among others, were led by the ASUU Akure Zone Coordinator, Dr Adeola Egbetokun and OAU branch chairman, Prof. Anthony Odiwe.
Moving round the campus of the institution amidst solidarity songs and warning of impending industrial unrest on university campuses in the country, unless the Federal Government return to negotiation table, the university lecturers also demanded for intervention of well meaning Nigerians before the current agitations lead to strike.
Addressing journalists during the protest, Odiwe said the release of four months out of pending months owed the lecturers by the federal government, was tantamount to a Greek Gift, as third party deductions taken from their salaries were not remitted to the appropriate quarters.
Odiwe also said in the last one year, despite the facts that the leadership of the union had expressed desire for negotiation, the Federal Government had delibrately refused to initiate talks with ASUU over pending unmet agreement between the parties.
“ASUU as a union of intellectuals will continue to champion efforts at improving the welfare conditions of our members and improve the working conditions/ environment in our Universities.
“We are today compelled to call the attention of Nigerians and the government to the challenges that have been working against the development and progress in the University education in the country. It is our duty as body of intellectuals to therefore assess and report on the state of our universities which is presently very worrisome.
“It is extremely important to state that all the issues that had always forced our members to embark on strike are still unattended up till now. Please permit me to mention those issues.
“Funding for the Revitalization of Public Universities based on the FGN-ASUU MoU of 2012, 2013, and the MoA of 2017, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN / ASUU Agreement, release of the unpaid salaries of staff on sabbatical, adjunct, etc. due to IPPIS, payment of promotion arrears, payment of EAA, proliferation of public universities, implementation of the Reports of the Visitation Panels, illegal dissolution of Governing Councils in Federal and State Universities, implementation of University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) in place of IPPIS and release of third-party deductions.
“The Union was very open and hopeful at the beginning that government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that would be favourably disposed in addressing the issues, especially with the posture and utterances of Mr. President that strike will be thing of the past in our system.
“Unfortunately, the same government has refused to relate with us officially in the last one year in power. In view of this, the Union has decided to take this matter to the public space once again so that Nigerians will be properly informed and will not blame us but the government because of their insensitivity and non-responsiveness to the issues of university education in the country.
“We are using this opportunity to draw your attention to the continuous insensitivity and unconcerned attitude of the government with respect to agreements and care for the welfare of hard-working lecturers. Despite your sacrifices to make our Universities better in the face of serious economic hardship in the land, government has continued to show I don’t care attitude to welfare and well-being of the lecturers and students.
“Once again, the Union is using this opportunity to appeal to our traditional rulers, religious leaders, Nigerian Parents Forum, students’ bodies and other well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the government to make it a point of duty and matter of urgency to dialogue with us and resolve all the lingering issues in the interest of all. Failure to do this our members will have no other choice than to explore other available options including strike; Nigerians should not blame the Union for disruption in the system,” Odiwe said.
Speaking in similar vein, ASUU Akure Zone Coordinator, Egbetokun decried poor working conditions in the nation’s universities and called for immediate favourable response from the Federal Government to avert industrial crises.
END
