The Plateau State University Branch, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has responded to the threat by the Plateau State government to Commence implementation of No-Work-No pay against its members, describing it as ill-advised.
Chairman of the union and Secretary, Dr. Monday Hassan Zitta, and comrade Deme S Bitrus respectfully in a press statement issued to newsmen after the union congress meeting held in Jos on Monday, said the union was in receipt of the government’s letter written to the branch and have deliberated on the directive given by the state government to apply no- work -no pay rule for members of the union.
They reminded the state government that the initial stand of ASUU was that the fate of education in the entire country must be critically addressed before issues at the branches are tackled.
They also reminded the plateau state government that the national executive council of ASUU involving principal officers and members of the union made an extra effort in giving attention to the negotiation in order to cover a gap so that students and lecturers will resume as soon as other crucial issues that affect university education in the county are resolved.
According to the statement, “we wish to draw the attention of the state government that plateau state university can not thrive in isolation, it needs the support of the universities within and outside the county in the same way that all universities in the world collaborate with each other “
They also reminded the state government that during the negotiation, the representatives of the government were reminded that the issues at the national level affect all public universities in Nigeria and as such the strike by lecturers in plateau state university is the same strike that every lecturer in every public Nigerian university is embarking upon to ensure that no public university in Nigeria finds itself at a difficult end saying there is no Federal ASUU and no State ASUU.
” There is only one ASUU demanding that the government should act responsibly in ensuring quality education in the county.”
According to them, there are many challenges facing Plateau state university which are more than the challenges facing many public universities in Nigeria.
They argued that without the sacrifices made by ASUU, no department in the State university will come close to passing the accreditation tests and that the national university commission would have since closed down the institution.
“It is also significant to note that more than 90 percent of the structures in plateau State University were implemented by Tetfund or Needs assessment fund ( revitalization).
According to them, the state government has not offered sponsorship for both local and international to any academic staff of the institution, as they have to rely on Tetfund, Needs assessment, or their mega salaries to train themselves.
” It is therefore not only necessary but reasonable to work with the union that has over years long before the establishment of PLASU sustained and kept the Nigerian university education from deterioration like the public primary and secondary schools in the country.
They stressed that their congress is unanimously committed to the struggle.
