By Sodiq Adelakun
Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) is at loggerheads with the Federal Government over refusal to pay full salaries to its members.
The University President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke said he is not pleased with the slow dispensation of justice in Nigerian courts while labelling going to court as a waste of time.
“When we get there, we will let you know, but legal issue in Nigeria is time wasting. The next 20 years, you will be there 20 years, so, when we are there, we will let you know,” he said.
Meanwhile, some students have reacted to the situation and identified it could affect them negatively if not properly managed.
Reacting to this development by ASUU, Osobola Taiwo, a student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (AAUA) disclosed that after wasting eight months of his life. FG has not fully met demand of lecturers and identified it as appalling situation.
According to him, “Eight good months gone in my life without achieving something meaningful I should have done, this is appalling and the same government wants our vote.”
Also, Adio Yemisi, a student of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti has called on Federal Government to find a lasting solution so as to avoid another wasted months like before.
She urged FG and ASUU to reach a meaningful agreement that would be beneficial to students as this would project the image of the present government and ruling party.
“APC is in power, they should make sure sure they reach agreement this will project their image cum 2023 election.
“We have all wasted months, if not almost a year at home and our colleagues in Polytechnics are mocking us and we claim to be superior.
“I call on the established authorities to note this and reach an agreement that will be beneficial to all and sundry,” she said.
In the same vein, Adesola Doyin, a student of University of Ibadan expressed that the eight-month-old strike has been affecting her since day one and the government are so adamant in doing what they wanted till this moment.
She added that Federal Government paid deaf hears to pleas made by ASUU deliberately as she revealed its something that could be done in twinkle of an eye.
In her words, “This good-for-nothing strike has been affecting me right from day one and our government has been so adamant in ignoring all our lecturers are begging for.
“I pray this decision by ASUU won’t affect us again, truth be told, our government are so guilty by paying deaf hears to pleas.
“This is what they could have done without any problem as everything would have been fine if properly handled by the so-called Federal government.”
Recall that ASUU suspended the eight-month-old strike on 14th October, 2022.
The union ended the strike following the intense negotiations with the government and house of representatives.