Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has said it will continue to fight for the interest of its members in both federal and state universities.
The union said this is necessary in order to get better conditions of service for lecturers and improve access to quality education in the country.
The union on Wednesday described the statement credited to the pro-chancellor of Osun State University, Mallam Yusuf Alli as unfortunate.
Our correspondent gathered that Alli had said it was wrong for the federal government to negotiate with ASUU.
But, ASUU while reacting, said Nigerian academics cannot be asked to earn by their performance when basic infrastructures for teaching and research are not available.
Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Professor Oyebamiji Oyegoke, and Professor Ayoola Akinwole (UI), Professor Moyosore Ajao (UNILORIN), Professor Biodun Olaniran (LAUTECH), Dr. Shehu Salau (KWASU), Dr. Wende Olaosebikan (UNIOSUN) in a jointly signed statement explained that they were surprised that the UNIOSUN pro-chancellor is unaware that pro-chancellors have always been part of the negotiations.
The union in the statement made available on Wednesday said asking a union like ASUU to negotiate with councils shows a capitalist mindset of people who want the children of the masses to be denied access to quality public education.
They added that they will continue to resist any attempt to further pauperise lecturers.
The union maintained that they will not allow anyone to subject them to the whims and caprices of the chairmen of the council.
The union said, “The Pro – chancellor and chairman of the council, Osun State University, Mallam Yusuf Alli by his statement that ‘it is wrong for the Federal Government of Nigeria to negotiate with ASUU is a regurgitation of non-practicable views of some detractors of public university in Nigeria.
Like ASUU has pointed out severally, these are words that do not take the social and economic issues of the Nigerian state into a realistic consideration.
How can he say councils that cannot develop infrastructure in university except through ASUU agitation for university revitalisation and intervention of TETFUND should be negotiating workers’ salary?”
