The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said that it would no longer tolerate the “pervasive” non-reinstatement or reconstitution of Governing Councils in public universities.
The union took the decision at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, between May 11 and May 12.
A statement on the resolutions of the union at the NEC meeting was issued and made available to newsmen in Abuja by ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke.
Osodeke said the union observed that the non-reinstatement or reconstitution of Governing Councils in universities was responsible for the ongoing illegalities and flagrant violation of autonomy in public universities.
According to him, NEC in session also undertook a review of the status of its engagements with Federal and State Governments on how to reposition Nigeria’s public universities for global reckoning and competitiveness.
He said the NEC condemned in strong terms, the seeming refusal of federal and state governments to decisively address all outstanding issues with the union.
Oshodeke said that NEC resolved to reconvene after two weeks, from the date of the meeting, to review the situation and take a decisive action to address the issues.
“The meeting also took a critical look at the worsening living and working conditions in our universities and the nation at large.
“The meeting received alarming reports on the failed promises of the federal and state governments towards addressing the lingering issues that forced the union to embark on the nationwide strike action of February–October 2022.
“NEC sadly noted that there are no serious efforts to redress the ugly situation.
“Reports available to NEC indicate that an increasing number of Nigerian academics died while thousands of others are nursing life-threatening ailments occasioned by work-related stress, absolute pauperisation, and multidimensional insecurity,” he said.
