New Nigerian Newspapers Online Edition

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been in the agitation for the reinstatement of their sacked colleagues at University of Ilorin for nearly seven years, now. The 46 lecturers left from the initial 49 have their case at the Supreme Court for final adjudication. But in spite of the subsisting suit the president of ASUU DR. SULE ABDULLAHI KANO is insisting that the suffering of his colleagues should end as soon as it can be resolved politically. While the federal government has refused to be brow-beaten by the tough-talking unionists in the ivory towers, the vice-chancellor of University of Ilorin Professor Ishaq Oloyede dismissed the stand of the national body of ASUU over the re-instatement of the remaining 46 lecturers. Whose interest are ASUU and the vice-chancellor of university of Ilorin fighting for and antagonizing, respectively? JIMRUNA WILFRED interviewed a cross section of the academic community in Kaduna to feel their pulse on the recent statement credited to Oloyede.

ASUU-FG crisis should be resolved amicably

Abdullahi Ashafa, lecturer Kaduna State University: As members of Academic Staff Union of Universities I think they are fighting for the rights and the sacked 49 lecturers should be recalled back to work for peace and harmonious working relation and sustainable development in our education sector.
Since the government of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua is based on due process and the matter is before Supreme Court I believe it would be resolved amicably so that the lecturers will be recalled back to work. At least, they have families to cater for, and I think their quest is justified.

ASUU’s demand is timely

Mohammed Mainoma, lecturer Kaduna State University: ASUU’s demand for the recall of 49 sacked lecturers does not actually amount to crying more than the bereaved because in this matter two issues are actually involved. One is matter for agreement and the other matter is about principles.
If you say you are sacking 49 lecturers from university of Ilorin, why were they sacked? That is the issue which ASUU is trying to establish. ASUU is insisting that if they have any other grievances against these lecturers they should tell them and follow due process to sack them. They don’t have problem with that. But, if they are sack because they are involved in industrial action that cultivated in signing the 2001 agreement between the government and ASUU the agreement stated that there is no body that is going to be victimized as a result of the strike and if these 49 lecturers are victimized because of the strike them the spirit of the agreement is violated that is the issue.
So, on the basis of that you find out that ASUU is not crying more than the bereaved in this matter since there is an understanding that no body will suffer anything as a result of strike but some members of ASUU are now suffering as a result of that strike.
The statement credited to the vice chancellor is an inflammatory statement which is not is expected from responsible authorities in this matter. It’s not going to assist in resolving the issue at all. For instance, there is no reason for someone to say ASUU should forget about issue. He should give reasons why you should forget about your colleagues that are denied their sources of income. So, if government really wants this matter to be resolved they should stop making utterances that are capable of inciting the lecturers against the government at this moment.

President Yar’Adua should reinstate them

Yaya Saleh Ibrahim, Chairman Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, Kaduna Polytechnic chapter: ASUU’s demand does not amount to crying more than the bereaved because this has been a very serious issue to the nation. Sincerely, the federal government needs to listen and act. The previous government did not follow due process in taking decisions. They always rushed into taking elections that will be detrimental to the nation. For instance, among those that were sacked are neuron scientist and others are specialists whose services Nigeria needs. If they are not recalled Nigeria is the ultimate loser.
Nigeria will retrogress instead of making progress; the vice chancellor of university of Ilorin’s statement is a personal opinion.
May be, he is trying to defend his own seat. They main thing in unionism is that you have to cry out when the nation is being drained of people that are intelligent and want to develop the nation contributing positive. I think, the vice chancellor’s comment is meant to help him retain his seat. That is all I can say about the statement credited to him. The reality on ground is that the education sector in Nigeria is decaying every day because of brain-drain. The people that are trained to uplift the system to a great height people that are supposed to stay and build a place are being sacked by the government. You wonder what’s the government looking. President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua should reverse the decision of his predecessor and reinstate the sacked lecturers. If you are talking of the rule of law must be adhered to. But the court allows delay in justice and any justice delayed is justice denied.