The current National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, says that he and his administration will sustain the demand for university autonomy.
This was even as his immediate predecessor, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, stated that poor treatment of university lecturers is responsible for academics japa.
Prof. Christopher Piwuna, who is a Nigerian Professor of Medicine and currently the 14th National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, stated this on Monday during a reception organized for the immediate past President of ASUU by Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike chapter of the union.
Prof. Piwuna promised “I will sustain the demand for university autonomy, academic freedom and other general conducive environment for ASUU members”, stating that strike action is a universal tool that can not be taken off the table, but only applied if the government fails to honour its agreements with ASUU.”
“ASUU struggle is a collective one that concern the lecturers, students and the parents. Strike is a universal tool that is not perculier to Nigeria alone. It is a toll that is used all over and can not be taken off the table, but we hope that we don’t have to embark on any action before we can get what we want,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of ASUU in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUAU branch, Chike Ugwuene, extolled the former President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, for making MOUAU and the nation proud, adding that there is harmony now between the management of MOUAU and ASUU in Umudike.
“He served the nation and made ASUU MOUAU proud by fighting for the the betterment of education system in Nigeria. There is harmony between ASUU MOUAU and the university management. The management is cooperating with us but don’t be surprised that if anything goes wrong, we will still ask for our rights and for the betterment of the society”, she said
Receiving the former ASUU President, the Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Professor Maduebibisi Iwe, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor(Academics), Prof. Nneoma Obasi said his university is proud of the roles Prof. Osodeke played as President of ASUU, stating that MOUAU stood by Osodeke “throughout his sleepless nights of endless negotiations.”
In his speech, Prof. Osodeke said under his leadership, the union fought several battles to keep education alive during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.
According to him, “Ngige’s rough relationship with ASUU created a lot of confusion in the country,” which he said, would have collapsed the education system if not for ASUU’s resilience.
Professor Osodeke said that the poor treatment of university lecturers was responsible for the exodus (japa) of Nigerian academics to the United States, Europe and Saudi Arabia, adding, “We encountered a lot of difficulties during the era of Ex- President Muhammadu Buhari, anchored by Chris Ngige who created a lot of confusion when we were struggling for the good of our education system.”
“Our struggles have kept our public Universities where they are today and saved them from collapsing like other public institutions like Nigerian Airways and Nigerian refineries,” and explained that ASUU was able to achieve the removal of Universities from the IPPS system, while a number of Professors now retire with their full pay.
He noted that ASUU’s struggle is a collective initiative for the interests of lecturers, students and their parents, regretting, “public universities still offer quality education more than private ones”, stating that 95% of university students’ population in Nigeria are still found in public universities.
The Pro Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council of MOUAU, Felix Edeh, represented the Visitor to the University, President Bola Ahmed, while a former National President of ASUU, Isa Nasir Fagee, was the chairman of the occasion.
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