Richard Ginika Izuora
A faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, known as Congress of University Academics (CONUA), on Monday, November 9, urged vice-chancellors of public universities in the country to recall students for academic activities.
The appeal was contained in a statement issued by its National Secretary, Dr. Henri Oripeloye.
According to Oripeloye, the vice-chancellors should recall students for the resumption of academic activities; because many lecturers are ready to resume work; after they complied with the Federal Government’s directive on Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
He also said apart from members of CONUA, “there are lecturers who don’t belong to ASUU or any union; and are likewise willing to return to the classroom.”
The secretary said: “We reject in strong terms; the claims that we are members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). We are an independent union on university campuses in Nigeria.
“We commend the National Universities Commission, for directing the opening of universities nationwide. We want our universities to be reopened so that they will not be left behind in the scheme of things.
“CONUA believes in constructive and also objective engagement with the government rather than strike.
“One of CONUA’s dreams is that strike action as a weapon to force the government’s attention should become history. We don’t know anything about UTAS, we believe in fruitful interaction with the government and also to achieve our requests from the government.
“CONUA has no conflict with ASUU. The two unions only differ in terms of philosophy as well as ideology which is reflecting in their approach to getting the government to accede to requests.
“And this is being done on the issue of IPPIS as CONUA has been interacting with the government on how to solve many of the problems that have been identified with the platform.”
CONUA, had n August declared the readiness of its members to return to the classroom in the interest of the students.