… Accuses govt of subjecting members to untold hardship, poverty
By Gabriel Dike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday described as false the claimed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, that the union submitted a position proposal, which the Federal Government is currently working on to address their numerous demands.
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The union also accused the Federal Government of subjecting its members to untold hardship and poverty, resulting in members lecturing students on empty stomach.
The ASUU Coordinator, Lagos Zone, Prof. Adesola Nassir, disclosed this in Lagos while briefing newsmen on the ongoing mobilization of members and Nigerians over government attitude towards the union’s outstanding demands.
At the briefing, which was attended by seven universities in the zone, a former ASUU national Treasurer, former Lagos Zonal Coordinator, denied the education minister’s position that the union submitted a proposal for government attention.
He stated: “Let me say it categorically that ASUU does not have any position proposal. ASUU has no position proposal with the Federal Government. For the minister to describe government position paper as ASUU’s own is mischievous
He added: “We are also perturbed by the minster’s statement on the plan of government to present a counter position to the Yayale Ahmed’s renegotiated document, erroneously referred to as ASUU’s proposal. This position not only rubbishes the integrity of the representative of government on the renegotiation team but also affirms that they do not have the mandate of government to renegotiate with ASUU.
“The Yayale Ahmed submitted document is a product of eight years of painstaking negotiation that span four chairpersons. Our members are tired of this rhetoric from the minister. Any attempt to rubbish years of perseverance and further entrench poverty within our fold would be met with stiff resistance. We urge the intergovernmental committee to be mindful of what they will come up with as our union has reached the limit of oppression.’’
According to him, the demands of the union have been placed before government for resolution insisting members have displayed rare patience and perseverance, which the government took as complacency and vowed that it will take its destiny in their hands.
Nassir said the government has failed to implement the 2009 renegotiated agreement has subjected students and staff to untold hardship and excoriating poverty.
“The right of ASUU to embark on strike when all efforts yield no meaningful results is recognized by the labour laws. Our members are being owed various entitlements, including third-party deductions made by the corrupt and discredited IPPIS, promotion arrears of up to four years, arrears of wage award and palliative,’’ he argued.
The ASUU coordinator stressed that when the education minister expressed the wish of government that there would be no strike by unions in the tertiary institutions, one would expect the government to match their words with action.
On the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), Nassir described the programme as wrapped in mediocrity, entrenched in tokenism and incongruous, warning, “our union will not be part of such. Government has the responsibility to assist its employees, but loans cannot be substitute for a living wage.”
Nassir implored Nigerians to prevail on the government to call all its agencies involved in resolving this impasse in order to avert industrial action and allow peace to return to the university system.
The post You lied, ASUU replies Education Minister, says union has no position proposal before FG appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
