Federal varsity Wukari ASUU kick against FGs casualisation of varsity academics
By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), Federal university Wukari Taraba state, on Wednesday kicked against the federal government plan casualisation of University Academics in Nigeria.
Comrade Joe Ikwebe, the ASUU chairman made the position of the union know while briefing journalists after a peaceful protest by union members at the University premises in Wukari, expressed dissatisfaction over the federal government inability to settle staff salaries after eight months strike embarked upon by the union.
According to him, “It’s unfair for members of our union to bear the brunt of the failure of the federal government, our union did not go on strike because we were happy to go on strike but because the government failed to honour an agreement it willingly signed with the union.
“The Union should not be punished for the government’s ineptitude and insincerity, the strike in itself was foisted on the union by the government,
“It is illogical and illegal for the government to withhold our members salaries for protesting against ill_treatment, the revelations made by the Nimi -Briggs committee in a paid advertorial underscores the level of insincerity of government and the depth of lies and half truth they have been dishing out to Nigerians.
“The strike was suspended because of the patriotism and responsibility of the union in obedience to the order of the court of Appeal providing a window of opportunity for the government to sort out the issues at stake.
“It is criminal and most insensitive, insulting, demeaning, and illegal for the federal government to casualise the Academics.
“The recent protest is to let the whole nation know that ASUU vehemently condemn the Casualisation of Academics In it’s entirety.
“The university Academic environment is unlike the mainstream civil service, the no work,no pay policy of government cannot be implemented.
“There are institution in the country that have been on strike for several months due to industrial dispute with the federal government but there salaries constantly being paid,” The ASUU chairman expressed.
