By Adamu Suleiman
The Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU) at the weekend urged the federal government to bring to an end what it alleged as anti-intellectual posture and treat public universities with dignity and respect.
It also urged government to fulfill the long standing agreement it entered with the union.
Professor Abubakar Sabo Yabo, Zonal Coordinator of the union said at a press conference in Sokoto noting that the survival of Nigeria as a nation was umbilically tied to the survival of public universities, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow the system breath.
” We are dismayed by the non fulfilment of an agreed memorandum which led to
the suspension of the 2022 strike action following a court ruling which bordered on conclusion of the renegotiation of 2009 FGN/ASUU of Nimi Briggs Committee agreement of 2021, release of withheld salaries due to the 2022 strike action among other issues as IPPIS ”
The Zone which comprise universities across Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara states expressed the union’s disdain for government and respective universities administrators inability to uphold the truth and protect the sanctity of public university system.
According to Yabo who is of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto said ” they are now serving as agents of destruction of the same system they are meant to protect and promote”, citing alleged clear cases of victimisation of its members at the federal university, Dutsin- Ma with the outright dismissal of Shehu Yadda and the unjustified suspension of Dr Aondoaka Asambe which court ordered reinstatement but the university failed to honour.
” This clearly depicts impunity and high handedness which has tendency to further plunge the university system into avoidable chaos if not promptly arrested”
While urging the concerned universities to thread the path of civility and global best practices by applying decorum in treating University academics.
End.