ASUU Strike: Federal Govt, Top Officials Insensitive – Lecturers

Lecturers has said that the Federal Government and top officials are insensitive over ASUU strike.

According to a report by The Nation, senior dons have berated the Federal Government for refusing to pay members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for the duration of the six-month strike.

ASUU had insisted on payment of salary as condition to return to work.

Former Dean of College of Medicine in University of Lagos (UNILAG) Prof. A.O. Adefule-Ositelu described the government as ‘wicked and insensitive’ to the education and future of youths.

She said if children of top government functionaries attended public universities, government would not allow the strike for one week.

Adefule-Ositelu slammed the ‘ill-treatment’ of lecturers, stressing ‘our best products are pushed into global servitude because of the uncommitted attitude and decisions. This is stunting our national progress and success’.

She called on the government to pay salaries of lecturers, and meet ASUU’s demands.

“It is embarrassing and disheartening that this kind of statement should be allowed, and still drag on. It shows the insensitivity of the government. This is most uncalled for…“

Head of Mass Communication Department at Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos, Prof. Emmanuel Eifeduba, said it was ‘foolish talk’ to say lecturers would not be paid for the six months.

Eifeduba also worried over the ‘docility and lukewarm nature’ of parents.

He said parents should challenge the government for keeping their children at home.

The don lamented that top government officials were not bothered because their children were in private universities and abroad.

He said: “Government should pay lecturers their due as they are bound to teach the students all they have missed during the six months’ strike.”