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By Kingsley Abavo, Benin
Barely a month members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Nigeria returned to work after about eight months strike, they have resumed agitation against the Federal Government over acts they termed: brazen ‘assault on Nigerian intellectuals.’
The University of Benin Chapter of the Union on Wednesday, 16 November, 2022 staged a special Congress and Protest rally; entitled: ‘Casualization of Intellectualism in Nigeria’ to ventilate their resentment of several actions of Government which they say, negates growth of the education sector particularly; well-being of the Nigerian University system.
The Union led by the Chapter Chairman, Ray Chikogu and secretary, Success Abusomwam listed many ill actions of Government against the University system to include:
“Insensitive and irresponsible refusal to conclude the renegotiation of the FGN – ASUU 2009 Agreement;
“Failure to pay up earned academic allowances and arrears of promotion entitlements dating to as far back as 2016;
“The impudent inefficiency and irregularities going on in the IPPIS office, and the consequent non payment of salaries of academics variously ranging, between three and 18 months from 2020 to date;
“The recent attempt to criminalize a strike action validly and justifiably called to challenge Government’s systemic destruction of the Nigerian University System; by withholding of the salaries of University intellectuals for months of March – September 2022;
“And the more recent nauseating payment of October 2022 salaries to academic Staff on prorated basis as if Intellectualism is a menial job and intellectuals engaged in research and pursuit of knowledge, are unskilled and casual labourers.”
Government action the Union says, was unpatriotic and borne out of selfish intent without any consideration for the growth and development needs of the Nigerian nation.
“In the end, the Federal Government is seeking to abdicate its responsibility towards the provision of free, quality and accessible education to ordinary Nigerians, against the dictates of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Union also accused the Federal Government of deliberate intent to hike fees and charges; and price access to quality education out of the reach of the children of ordinary Nigerians.
This, it alleged, the Federal Government wants to achieve, through the trumpeting of the unscrupulous claim that it cannot continue to fund public University education in the same country in which an unproductive NNPC, with General Muhammadu Buhari as Petroleum Minister, expended N33bn on entertainment and telephone calls alone, between 2020 and 2021.
Also, spent N648.6bn and N788.7bn as administrative costs in 2020 and 2021 respectively and is yet to remit a dime in 2022 into the Federation Account for the benefit of State and Local Governments.
From the prevailing situation, the angry Union predicted: in the long term; public Universities in Nigeria will be completely destroyed and only the children of thieving politicians will benefit from University education either in local private Institutions; or foreign Universities.
“All of these from the sweat of Nigerian workers, and the proceeds of our common patrimony.
“Ultimately, our children will be uneducated and unenlightened and they will perpetuate their lordship over our generations through their children.
“The current onslaught against intellectuals is aimed at demoralizing the workforce in the Universities, and preparing the grounds for the eventual destruction of the system.”
Further, the Union held that the “attempt at criminalizing strikes by the unlawful withholding of the salaries for the eight months that the recently suspended ASUU strike lasted, and equally illegal payment of prorated salaries to Universities lecturers for the month of October 2022 has a far more sinister implication beyond the members of ASUU.”
It stressed; that it was a “grand design aimed at suppressing all forms of dissent and agitation against the retrogressive tendencies of Government and ultimately enslaving Nigerian workers.”
The Union however; expressed the confidence that it would overcome what it termed: “the wicked and aberrant actions” of the President Buhari administration; “especially the sadism of Chris Ngige, the Labour and Employment Minister.”
As it called on all stakeholders and well meaning Nigerians to be aware of the “unfolding plot of Government functionaries, against the ordinary Nigerian.
In the face of this; “We ask that everyone remains resilient in support of ASUU and the laudable ideals for which we have continued to struggle.”
