By Oludamisi Ojo
The National Association of Nigerian Students has reacted to the claim by the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) demanding that the federal government should pay its members six months’ salary arrears for the period they were on strike as a condition to call off its industrial action.
The Association described the demand as insensitive, wicked and outrageous.
NANS said such demand had portrayed ASUU as pursuing the narrow interest of members against the move in fighting to revamp the education sector it has made the public believe.
The students’ body said this in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Thursday and signed by its National President, Sunday Asefon.
Afon said NANS had since the commencement of the strike been in favour of ASUU
He pointed out that the current demand by striking lecturers was not only disappointing and frivolous but represented the pursuit of narrow interest.
The NANS leader warned the lecturers against acting like employers even when they are employees.
The statement said it is unhealthy in the face of law to be demanding payment for services they didn’t render.
NANS said” We condemn in totality, the insistence of ASUU on the payment of a six-month arrears salary for the entire period of the strike before they can call off the strike. This demand is not only insensitive; it is also selfish, inconsiderate, and uncharitable.
“The six months are periods of no work. As much as we encourage the government to pay their arrears irrespective, it is unfair to base the resumption of academic activities on full payment of the arrears.
“We have also, unfortunately, noticed that since the beginning of the strike, ASUU had refused to put the students who are the major losers into consideration whatsoever. They have hidden from us the major areas of contention. Every other stakeholder, except ASUU, has met with us directly to discuss the issues.
“ASUU had masqueraded some of their interests as the interest of tertiary education in Nigeria, and at some point masqueraded their interest as the interest of the students. We know that ASUU is less concerned about the interest of the students because of our experiences with them at our various tertiary institutions.
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“University authorities have used ASUU members and leaders to expel, suspend and rusticate students for merely protesting for improved welfare. They expel and rusticate students for protesting basic needs such as water, power, habitable hostel accommodation and so on
“ASUU members arbitrarily failed students for questioning their positions or opinions and sometimes for asking too many questions. These same people cannot suddenly turn around to claim they are fighting for our interest, our interest they trample upon at every given opportunity at our various tertiary institutions.
“We believe that if the government has met substantially major areas of their demand, ASUU should tread the path of honour by calling off the strike. We no longer believe that this continuous strike is fashionable, reasonable, justifiable, and necessary”.
The Students’ leader contended that demanding six-month salary arrears before calling off the strike was like “kidnappers demand their ransom before releasing their victims”.
