By Chiekezie Emmanuel

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU) ESUT chapter has expressed its displeasure over the ugly treatment meted out to the union by the Federal Government. On Tuesday, after a meeting held at Prof. Julius Onah Auditorium, ESUT, the academic staff rallied on the road and asked the Federal Government for quick intervention and fully implement the 2009 agreement it reached with the union.

According to the Acting ASSU Chairman, ESUT chapter, Dr. Andrew Apeh, the agreement they had with the Federal Government since 2009 has not been implemented, and there has been no effort from the government to address their concerns. He described as hypocritical for the government to offer loans when they have not paid their salaries and other entitlements.

“We are not asking for loans; we are asking for our rights. If you have money to give us loans, why not pay us our salaries and other entitlements that are due to us?” he queried.

 He added that the Federal Government has a habit of bringing loans to distract the union whenever they plan to hold conferences.

The ASSU Chairman highlighted several issues that the union is demanding the government to address, including the proliferation of universities, funding of existing universities, and payment of three months’ salary arrears. He stated that the government has not been able to fund existing universities and yet continues to create new ones.

The rally, according to Dr. Apeh, was to show support and solidarity with their members across the country and to shout out to anyone who cares to know what they need and help them reach out to authorities.

Also speaking, a member of the union, Prof. Mmaduabum Nneka emphasized that the protest was about their welfare. She stated that the lecturers are not well-treated, and the agreement they have with the governments since 2009 have not been implemented.

“We just gathered here to make our feelings known to the government,” she said. She recalled that the last time they planned to go on strike, the government and parents appealed to them to go back to the classroom while they negotiated, and they did not go on strike because they considered the pleas of their parents and children. However, the government has not done what they promised, which is why they are there to remind them.

It Could be recalled that the National leadership of ASUU had directed their branch unions to immediately shut down their respective institutions following the federal government’s failure to meet their demands.

The university lecturers premised their resolutions to put the tertiary institutions under lock and key again after two years of a similar scenario happening over the failed implementation of the renegotiated agreement, payment of withheld salaries, improved funding of the nation’s institutions, among others.

Armed with placards during a nationwide protest across the country on Tuesday, the university teachers also announced total rejection of the recently introduced Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund loan scheme, arguing that what academics and researchers need is their legitimate earnings and grants, not loans.

Some of the states where the academics demonstrated include Maiduguri, Kano, Jos, Lagos, Uyo, Enugu, among others

Below is video of the protest