FG not telling Nigerians the truth about our demands – ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, on Sunday, accused the Federal Government of misinforming Nigerians about their demands, just as it said that it never had it so bad with past administrations as far as negotiations are concerned.

The President of the union, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said this while reacting to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo’s claim that it was unrealistic for the Federal Government to borrow money to end the five-month-old strike.

Osodeke said the claim by Keyamo that ASUU was demanding N1.1t naira to end the industrial action is false.

He, therefore, urged the Federal Government to stop misinforming Nigerians.

“We have never had it this bad in the history of Nigeria, because we never had any situation where we would have an agreement with the government, only for the government team to disappear…We’ve never had it this bad!

“We’re not saying give ASUU this money; we are saying refurbish Nigerian universities in such a way that it can attract students from all over the world. That’s the major thing we are asking for. It’s not about ASUU.

“We’re asking for that money for Nigerian students, and Nigerian parents. The money is for building infrastructure, upgrading libraries, hostels, and lecture theatres so that students will not be having lectures through windows; so that students will not be sitting on the floor during lectures. That’s what we are asking for. Just like you have in other countries, even our neighbours here, Benin Republic and Ghana. That’s what we are asking for.

“We are also saying that lecturers must earn competitive salaries so that we can have lecturers from all over the world come to our universities to teach, just like we’re going outside. Those are the things that we are asking for,” Osodeke said.

The ASUU President said negotiations with the government have not been fruitful owing to the actions of some government officials at the federal level.

He said, “On two occasions, we have negotiated and reached an agreement with the team that was set up to meet with us, which did not come from outer space; a team that was set up by the President.

“On both occasions, the government team will not come back to us but will go out and start misinforming the public. Honestly, we have not had it this bad since ASUU started having issues with the government.”