The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) has never demanded 109 per cent pay rise. This was disclosed by a member, Federal Government/ASUU negotiating team, Dr. Suleiman Abdul in Bauchi.
Abdul of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi chapter who spoke at a one-day symposium organized by ASUU in Bauchi accused the Federal Government of avoiding its responsibility by blackmailing ASUU.
He opined that the Yar’Adua regime was 15 per cent grossly short of the mandatory international recommendation for funding education.
According to him, ASUU only demand for an average to curtail the country’s perennial brain-drain problem.
Explaining why ASUU was on strike, Abdul said the condition of service in Nigerian universities was deplorable.
He condemned in strong terms appeals by President Umaru Yar’Adua for ASUU to suspend the strike in the spirit of Ramadan.
“No one can practice his or her religion in bondage or in an unfavourable condition including empty stomach,’’ he stated.
The university Don said ASUU was the common man’s hope for any reasonable opposition in the country.
Earlier, the ATBU Bauchi ASUU Chairman Dr. Ibrahim Garba had asked the Yar’Adua government to forget Vision 2020.
According to him, the government negotiating team had resorted to series of lies and blackmail to address the rot in the nation’s education sector.
In his comment, Professor Agbo observed that Nigerians should be told that it was the Federal Government that is on strike and not ASUU, stressing that the Union has been doing everything possible to ensure that qualitative education is obtained in Nigerian universities.
To Babayo Jibril, a teacher with General Hassan Usman Katsina Primary school, teachers are willing to co-operate with ASUU in their struggle.
Yusuf Lawal who represented the Students’ Union President berated NANS leadership for selling out on the ASUU demands, which are meant to enhance quality education in the country.
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