“Federal Government Is Just Giving Empty Threats” – ASUU Responds To Ultimatum

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on
Thursday described the threat by the federal government to
sack lecturers if they don’t return to classroom as empty
threat that could not hold water.

The union said it is vindicated that the Federal government
was not ready to implement resolutions reached with the
union.
ASUU said the threat will fail, adding that Nigerian public
universities need 60,000 lecturers due to government’s failure
to employ more capable hands into the system.
The union said federal government is wasting the time of
Nigerians youths by failing to perfect the resolutions and get
the strike suspended.
The union added it had reasons to be wary following the
failure of government to honour their promises to Academic
Staff Union of Polytechnics, resident doctors and other health
workers who have suspended their strikes.
The ASUU National Treasurer, Dr. Ademola Aremu, while
responding to the government’s directive, said the threat does
not hold water as it has confirmed the fears that the federal
government cannot be trusted.
The don said, “With the latest action, the federal government
has shown that they are not committed to all they have been
saying. We are saying that since we agreed at the meeting that
the sum of 200 billion naira is for 2012 and 2013
revitalisation, the federal government should deposit same in
the Central Bank of Nigerian. We are already in November and
December is around the corner. If they don’t do that now,
when do they want to do it? We are saying the non-
victimization clause should be included as agreed while the
renegotiation of the 2009 agreement should be included as
agreed with the presidents”.
“It is a pity if the federal government is not willing to perfect
the resolutions reached with union. This is why we find it
difficult to trust our leaders by their words. How can someone
be threatening to sack lecturers when universities are already
short-staffed by almost 60,000. We are not in military era. The
military tried it and failed. This one will fail again. They can
re-open the school. ASUU did not shut down the universities. It
was the management of the schools that ordered the students to
go back home.”