Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) has warned the federal government against considering prescription that could jeopardize the deadlock of its previous meetings with the government to address its demands.
The Academic Association also warned that,”Government’s refusal to pay for the strike would hurt students more and be disruptive of our public universities which government’s insensitivity has thrown into avoidable crisis.”
The union flayed many opinions and publications on the seven-month long strike, saying many of the authors demonstrated what it called “lack of understanding of the core issues.”
“While we concede that some of the opinions stem from genuine concern for a resolution of the impasse, some others are clearly based on ignorance and/or mischief. ASUU would continue to set the records straight and shed light on issues in its patriotic struggle to save our university system from those bent on ruining it,”the union said in a statement,Monday,by Prof. Ade Adejumo,Converner of its newly constituted Rapid Response Committee.
The union particularly,faulted the publication of a US-based Nigerian,Dr. Yemi Adebowale,who it said justified the federal government’s decision to apply its “No Work,No Pay’” policy on it following the strike, saying the writer lacked understanding of the workings of Nigerian university system to have backed the government in his write-up.
It explained that unlike other government work,the work of a lecturer goes beyond teaching in classroom, adding that,”While teaching is on hold during the pendency of a strike, research work goes on unimpeded.”
“The barrage of opinions on traditional and social media on the seven-month long strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is hardly surprising, since it is an important issue touching the lives of many Nigerians, students, parents and many other Nigerians.
“That it is also an emotional issue is evident from the vitriol in many of the opinions or publications on the matter, many of which demonstrate a lack of understanding of the core issues.
“While we concede that some of the opinions stem from genuine concern for a resolution of the impasse, some others are clearly based on ignorance and/or mischief. ASUU would continue to set the records straight and shed light on issues in its patriotic struggle to save our university system from those bent on ruining it,”the statement read.
On the “No Work, No Pay” issue,the committee said:”It is sad and amazing how some people take-over and violate our public space pretending to be experts on issues that they know next to nothing about, and about which they have regrettably refused or are incapable to learn about”, adding:”All the same, some education is not out of place to upscale the ignorance of such commentators in this respect.”
“For example, contrary to Yemi Adebowale’s uninformed view, the work of a lecturer goes beyond teaching students. In fact, although the most visible, teaching is the simplest of a lecturer’s job. This perhaps explains why it carries a mere 10 per cent in the consideration of a lecturer’s promotion, where it is scored at all. Furthermore, in academia, good teaching is impossible without good research. Excellent and quality research are sine qua non for good teaching. While teaching is on hold during the pendency of a strike, research work goes on unimpeded.
“Added to this is the third leg of a lecturer’s preoccupation – community development – which is, application of research based-knowledge within and beyond the universities.
This explains why contrary to conventional employment practices as it concerns letter of employment, no resumption and closing time are contained in the employment letters of academics. We work 24/7 and 365 days a year, strike or no strike.
“Sadly, Yemi’s prejudice and hatred for lecturers made him not to see the illogicality and danger in the government’s NO work, No Pay” mantra, as well as its harmful implications for the students he pretends to love,”the committee further said.