By Gabriel Dike
In compliance with the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting directive, various branches of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) would from today (Tuesday) begin a nationwide protest rally over the half-paid October salary and outstanding demands.
The Education Report gathered that the national protest rally was recommended in place of another strike because of the exiting order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).
Following the NEC directive, the zonal coordinators and branch chairmen have mobilized members for the congress/protest rally in individual universities.
The protest rally, which is staggered, would start with ASUU Lagos zone. All the branches have scheduled congress/ protest rally for today.
ASUU University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka has fixed a special congress/protest rally against casualization of intellectualism in Nigeria on Tuesday, November 15.
Among stakeholders expected to speak at the protest rally includes the Secretary General of Joint Action Front (JAF), Comrade Abiodun Armeu, National Coordinator, Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Comrade Hassan Soweto, former chairman, ASUU UNILAG, Dr. Karo Ogbinka, President, Faculty of Arts, Odeyemi Victor and the Public Relations officer of NANS, Comrade Giwa Temitope.
The special congress/protest rally for ASUU University of Agriculture Abeokuta branch would hold today against the casualaization of the academic in Nigeria.
Speakers expected to address the rally are ASUU National Treasurer, Prof. Olusiji Sowande, Coordinator, Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR), Ogun State chapter, Eko Nicholas and past ASUU chairman Prof. Clement Eromosele.
At Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), the branch held its protest rally on Monday November 14, with the theme: “Towards Emancipating University Education in Nigeria”.
The flyer for the rally reads: “Yes, we are intellectuals. Hence our take-home pay should truly take us home. Come let us collectively rescue Nigerian university education from total collapse.”
Speakers who talked at the protest rally were former chairman of ASUU TASUED, Prof. R.O. Ettu, past chairman, Prof. Bayo Akinsanya and another former chairperson, Prof. A.O. Oyenuga.
The branch chairman of ASUU, Obafemi Awolwo University Ile-Ife (OAU), Dr. Adeola Egbedokun, said the branch is waiting for update about the protest rally from the zonal coordinator.
He added. “Yes, I am aware of protest rally. Our coordinator will brief us on when to start. It is not this week but next week.”
ASUU branch chairman, Ekiti State University, Ekiti State (EKSU), Dr. Kayode Arogundade, said the protest rally is a staggered protest and that EKSU, is not for today.
The Owerri ASUU zonal Coordinator, Dr. Uzo Onyebinama, told The Education Report, “we don’t know yet when the branches will start the protest rally. The universities are trying to recover lost ground. Congresses will meet and decide when to start.’’
The Education Report further gathered that vice chancellors of federal universities were equally paid half salaries in October but they chose to remain quit.
A branch chairman of the union said the vice chancellors are grumbling in silence over the half-paid salary in October and non-payment of their seven months outstanding salaries.
“You know as federal appointees, they cannot talk. The VCs are now feeling the heat.”
He also revealed that universities have not been given subvention to run their universities, adding some of the VCs have told union leaders about non-release of subvention for months.
ASUU on October 14, 2022, suspended its eight months strike in obedience to court order but government paid lecturers half salary.
An emergency NEC meeting was conveyed on November 7th and ASUU expressed dismay over the half salary payment, insisting members are intellectuals, not casual workers.