The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) has asked the Federal Government to save the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology by immediately taking over ownership of the institution from the present owners in the interest of the staff and students of the institution.
The union also called on the Government to make public all the recovered money from politicians and public office holders and inject the money into the economy to help get the country of recession.
In a communique at the end of its National Executive Council meeting, the union expressed dismay that both Oyo and Osun state governments who are joint owners of the institution have abandoned jeopardizing the careers of its members, lives of students and other members of the University community.
According to the communique signed by the National President, Comrade Samson Chijioke Ugwoke and the National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Salaam Abdussobur, the union expressed sadness that “While the two State Governments have gone ahead setting up their own Universities, LAUTECH should not be left to rot in a country where the existing Universities cannot absorb the teeming prospective entrants into Universities.”
While noting the potentials of the university and its past contributions to national development, the union wondered why such institution should be abandoned for any reason and appealed to the federal government to halt this painful and embarrassing action of Oyo and Osun State Governments.
They appealed to stakeholders in the Educational Sector, Traditional Rulers in the Southwest, political leaders and concerned Nigerians to take more than a passing interest in the issue of affecting the institution in the interest of Nigerian children and the future of the Nation.
They condemn what they described as “contemptuous” the action of the Federal Government “in defiance and disrespect of the rule of law by bluntly refusing to implement the judgment of the National Industrial Court that clearly directed that Staff Schools are integral part of the University as contained in the SSANU/FGN 2009 agreement.”
The union expressed disappointment with the recent guidelines in the 2018 Personnel Budget Call Circular dated May 5, 2017, signed by Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning, directing that workers in Staff Schools affiliated to Institutions should not be included in the Personnel Budgets of such Institutions.
According to the union, this directive is a gross defiance of the Court judgment in respect of University Staff Schools, and an affront to democratic institutions and Rule of Law which the Federal Government professes to uphold and protect and demand that workers in the University Staff Schools be immediately integrated into the University system by including them in the budget and according them their proper status without further delay to avoid nationwide industrial action.
The union called on the Federal Government to make public all the recovered money from politicians and public office holders and inject the money into the economy to help come out of the recession as keeping these monies in reserve or as savings while Nigerians starve, makes no meaning.
It further advises Government to promote policies that will attract investors and prevent oligopolies in the food and building industries to save the masses these bleak situations. SSANU further advises Government to urgently negotiate with the Nigeria Labour Congress for review of the National Minimum Wage and ensure Nigerians are given living wages.
The union demands as a matter of urgency, the implementation of the payment of Earned Allowances being owed members of SSANU arising from the SSANU/ FGN 2009 Agreement as the continued delay is a breach of a Collective Bargaining Agreement and a dishonorable act by Government.
While commending hate speeches, threat for secession and drumbeat of war by some sections of the country, the union called on the Nigeria workers to unite against poverty, deprivation and exploitation by members of the elite/ ruling class.
It said “while the members of the ruling class have other places and countries to run to, the average Nigerian does not. NEC therefore urges Nigerians not to allow themselves to be used as cannon fodder by the elite class who promote all these divisions for personal, selfish and exploitative ends.
“Observing however, that there are imbalances and inequalities in the Nigerian system, which need urgent redress, NEC urges the Nigerian people to promote dialogue with a view to deepening the National conversation, instead of violence which would bring along with it, grave consequences and repercussions.
On the position of the association on the state of insecurity and attacks on University of Maiduguri, it said, “NEC in Session, condemns the spate of bombings in the University of Maiduguri leading to wanton destruction of lives and property of staff and students
“While SSANU appreciates the security forces and the Federal Government for achievements so far recorded in curtailing the menace of insurgence, it urges them to do more in intelligence gathering and tasks the Federal Government to provide equipment and adequate funding to protect our Universities from violence being wreaked by these miscreants.”
