FG to reopen universities
The federal government is reportedly planning to reopen universities without members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Is the government recruiting new lecturers?
That’s not clear from reports. From a report by Vanguard newspaper, the government’s planned reopening of universities is coming after members of various non-academic unions called off their own industrial action. According to the Vanguard report, which quoted sources in the Federal Ministry of Education, members of ASUU are not the only set of workers in the university system, and other workers willing to work should not be denied the opportunity to do so.
What’s the point of reopening if studies aren’t resuming?
According to the source in the Vanguard report, some academic staff in the universities have dissociated themselves from ASUU’s lingering strike, and are working to get registered as a recognized group in the university system. The lecturers, on the platform of the “Congress of University Academics (CONUA), and under the leadership of Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, are said to have indicated willingness to resume work. “Moreover, there are some lecturers who are also ready to work, such people should not be shut out”, the source said.
Education Minister To Meet With Universities Management The industrial action of various university unions is said to be the subject of a meeting slated for next Tuesday at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Complex, Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, is to deliberate with Pro-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of federal universities. The letter inviting the universities’ management, titled “Industrial actions by university-based unions: Invitation to a special interactive meeting with the Honourable Minister of Education”, was signed by the NUC Deputy Executive Secretary, Administration, Chris Maiyaki, on behalf of the Executive Secretary.
