The Yola zone of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), members have took to the major roads of the Modibbo Adama University, (MAU) Yola campus,
protesting poor condition of service and federal government inability to implement 2009 agreement entered with its members.
The lectures told LEADERSHIP that they resorted to peaceful protest to press hard their demand as well as to serve government a notice for looming industrial actions
Some of the lectures carrying placards with various inscriptions which reads; ‘please save public universities from total collapsed, ‘We have been pushed to the wall, action now’, release the revitalisation approved’, ‘government should revisit and implement the terms of 2009 agreement to improve our conditions of service among others went round lecturer theatres raising advocacy for possible down tools excepts their demands were met.
Addressing journalists, Professor Augustine Ndaghu, who spoke on behalf of the protesting lecturers, said the punitive withholding of three and half months salaries during a previous strike period persists as an act of victimization and violating the spirit of dialogue and collective bargaining.
Ndaghu explained that despite consistent deductions of cooperative contributions and pension funds from members salaries, government is adamant on remittance of third party deductions describing it a violation of ethical and legal obligations.
The failure of government to implement ASUU agreements have crippled vital welfare schemes that provided financial security and social support for the members the lecturer noted.
According to him the faith of academic activities maybe hanging imbalance in couple of days to come if the matter is not amicably addressed.
“We are protesting, telling federal government enough is enough of telling us lie.
“We are telling government that 2009 agreement universities autonomy, salaries, conditions of service and funding of Nigeria’s universities non was implemented” he added.
James Peter a final year student from department microbiology of the university appealed for both ASUU and federal government to comes to terms in the interest of students
By Hussaini Hammangabdo
