The propaganda of the Federal Government in respect of the ongoing strike action of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has failed.
Chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan Chapter, Professor Ayo Akinwole, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, today.
He asked Nigerians to disregard what he called the lies of the Federal Government saying the government is far from meeting any of the union’s seven demands.
He said the Federal Government is not talking about the over eight years earned academic allowances owed lecturers in public universities.
Professor Akinwole said the government lied to the union severally. “The President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, instead of paying N220billion meant for the 2014 Revitalization Fund, only paid N50billion to over 50 universities in the last seven years,” he said.
He said government has to pay the balance of N170billion to the managements of the various public universies.
The union also stated that all its chapters that started the over six-month-old strike are intact and resolute to get from the Federal Government what public universities need to survive and compete globally.
Professor Akinwole disclosed that lecturers in public universities have been using their blood to run public universities and sustaining it.
He said ASUU will not sacrifice the welfare of its members and will resist any effort to turn intellectuals to slaves of irresponsible leadership.
According to Professor Akinwole, ASUU gave 14-month strike notice to the government before commencing the ongoing strike.
He added that even the intervention of the Nigerian Inter-religious Council in 2021 yielded no results before the Union was forced to declare the strike on 14 February, 2022.
“We waited for 14 months from December 2020 to February 2022 before declaring this strike.
“I am saying 14 months’ notice, 14 months engagements and the Nigeria Inter-religious Council intervened in 2021 when we would have declared the strike.
“We gave them one month with no result. Heroes are gone before they are appreciated but our union will not die. We will not die. We are going to be alive to see this struggle through,” he said.
Professor Akinwole, disclosed that the N1.1trillion demanded for the revatilisation of universities was not for lecturers in public universities.
He added the amount was arrived at by the Federal Government through its NEEDS Assessment report on the level of decay in public universities in the country.
Professor Akinwole thanked ASUU members for sacrificing and remaining resolute to reposition public varsity education in Nigeria. He added that irresponsible leadership is the reason for strikes in Nigeria.
“If ASUU does not go on this struggle, there will be no university for new people to attend.
“In the last 25 years, the Federal Government will not spend money on their universities unless ASUU goes on strike. Does that show they are responsible?
“I am also a parent and my children are home with me. Most lecturers have to spend their money on their students’ projects for some students to graduate.
“I could give you [phone] numbers of some of my students who can tell you how much I have had to support their projects.
“Lecturers retain Nigerian public universities with their blood. But it is right for Nigerians to say they should die on the job.
“I am saying they are owing us over eight years verified earned academic allowances. Is it ASUU only that is on strike?
“Some sectors (research institutes) of the nation have been on strike for 13months and government has been paying their salaries.
“Is it an offence to become lecturers in Nigerian universities? What led to the strike? It is non-responsiveness of government that led to the strike,” he said.
