..NANS, activists commend govt’s ‘magnanimity’
A former Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities {ASUU} at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Omotoye Olorode, and a Dean at the University of Ibadan, Prof. Godson Ana, over the weekend, berated the Federal Government’s plan payment of four months out of eight months salaries of university lecturers withheld by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
University lecturers went on strike for eight months last year. The development made the Buhari government to impose no-work-no-pay policies on them.
However, the Bola Tinubu government, on Friday,hinted on the payment of four months out of the eight months salaries to the ASUU members.
Reacting to the development, Olorodo lampooned the government for toeing a line of tokenism while Ana said it is an infringement on the fundamental rights of the workers.
Olorode emphasized that the government must pay in full, pay interest, as well as compensation and apologise to labour and Nigerians. It
Olorodo said:’’It is tokenism.The government should pay the salary in full and pay interest. ASUU has been raising the issue of underfunding of education. ASUU is defending the future of the country. The government must pay in full, pay interest, pay compensation and apologise to labour and Nigerians. It is the same APC government and people’’.
Prof. Ana said: ‘’It is an infringement on our rights. It is a complete negation of our rights. It shows that the government does not appreciate the sacrifices academics are making’’.
In his submission, a former Chairman of Trade Union Congress {TUC}, Emmanuel Ogundiran, said the government is allowing reasons to prevail.
‘’Maybe, they are looking at the situation of the country. The government is allowing reason to prevail. They should pay the remaining one if they can do it. Strike is a legitimate tool used by labour. Nobody or conditionality can take them away’’, he said.
However, the National Association of Nigerian Students {NANS}, has commended the President for the step.
Umar Barambu, NANS president urged ASUU to accept whatever the government is offering them.
He said:‘’It is a welcome development. We are happy about it. Some of the lecturers have obtained loans. We even wrote a letter to the Buhari government to pay them but they said it was a constitutional matter. I just pray it goes down well and it is done on time.
‘’if you could go on strike for eight months and you could not resolve the issue, I don’t think it is in the interest of the country. ASUU needs to be flexible and dynamic. They should accept whatever they are being given now, they can give a timeline. Later they can make more requests’’.
Omololu Ejidiran, a human rights activist and the convener of All Workers’ Convergence {AWC}, Andrew Emelieze, lauded the president for the plan.
Ejidiran said: ‘’The federal government is magnanimous. I commend the government. It has used the prerogative of mercy. On the conditions attached to it, they are not binding’’.
The convener of All Workers’ Convergence {AWC}, Emelieze, ‘’it is the right step in the right direction. It will ease the tension. The government should reduce the conditionalities. The masses should be aware of what is going on’’