The Nigerian Minister of State for Education Emeka Nwajiuba has accused the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), for shutting down Universities, describing the act as ‘wicked and mean’
The ASUU and SSANU strike entered its 51st day on Thursday as the unions failed to reach an agreement with the Nigerian Government.
The Minister revealed that Polytechnic lecturers in the country are also demanding the same from the Government.
Speaking to News Central on Thursday, President of ASUU Emmanuel Osodeke , said the union is asking the Government to make Nigerian Universities world class. He stated that the Government set up a committee headed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, but nothing fruitful has emerged from it.
Osodeke, who stated that Professors in Nigeria earn between $300-600 every month, noted that the Nigerian Government never meets the terms of agreement it signed with the union once the strikes ends.
He also told News Central that less than 5% of Nigerian students are attempting to apply into Polytechnics due to how, they’re badly run by the Nigerian Government.
Responding to the Nigerian Government’s directive of ‘no work, no pay’, the ASUU president said the union is ‘not scared of threats’ and said ‘it is not an issue’, adding that lecturers are not disturbed.
Last week, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) issued fresh ultimatums to the Federal Government, adding that its members will go on strike next month unless the Federal Government meets its outstanding demands.
The Union indicated at its 102nd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Yola on Thursday, that its one-month ultimatum begins to count on Monday, April 4.
President of ASUP, Anderson Ezeibe, who recalled that ASUP had suspended its last strike action after the government committed itself to address its grievances, said it decided at the Thursday meeting to give the government a further one month to respond.
