The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday warned the federal government to be wary of possible negative consequences of reopening schools.
Addressing a press conference at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, the Lagos Zone of ASUU warned that reopening of tertiary institutions without taking concrete steps to address myriad of challenges would be suicidal.
The Zonal Coordinator, Professor Olusiji Sowande said that it was not enough to have the students back on campuses but that the atmosphere and conditions must also be right.
Public universities have been on strike for long, meaning that even if the federal government approved their reopening, students would have to remain at home until the stalemate was resolved.
Professor Sowande said some of the problems in public universities included inadequate hostel facilities and crowded classes, saying the institutions also lacked water and electricity supply.
“The response of the public universities to the call by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for their readiness to reopen indicated that public universities are not ready.
“Presently, hostel accommodations are inadequate, no facility on ground to carry out physical in large and crowded classes, water and electricity supply are not reliable.
“Reopening tertiary institutions without taking concrete steps to address these issues would be suicidal. While the government made arrangements for special bailout funds for airline operators and other private entities, no such arrangement was made for public universities. Therefore, the government should be ready to take responsibility for any possible negative consequences after reopening of universities,” he said.
On the ongoing strike, Sowande said the union had written to relevant government agencies with a view to finding steps to put an end to the industrial action.
“It seems to us that some government officials are benefiting from the prevailing situation. We demand that the OAGF must immediately remit all illegally withheld check-offs and other third party deductions with accrued interests,” Sowande said.
