By Oludamisi Ojo
The Public Complaints Commission (PCC), on Wednesday negotiated with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), for the resolution of the crisis.
The ASUU Chairman, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Dr. Gabriel Omonijo, and his counterpart in the Ekiti State University, Dr. Kayode Arogundade, represented the union at the parley, while the students were led by the Chairman, NANS/JCC, Ekiti axis, Com. Felix Olanrewaju.
At the meeting held in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday, the PCC Commissioner, Ekiti State office, Mr. Kayode Bamisile, said every right-thinking Nigerian must be disturbed by the lingering strike in the universities and the attendant crises.
According to him, the PCC waded into the matter as a federal government’s agency seeking to end the feud for students to return to their campuses, couped with complaints being received from the public over blockage of Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki road by students, causing economic damage to the state.
After listening to the two unions, the PCC boss said: “I love the way you have conducted yourselves. I will take your position to our Chief Commissioner in Abuja for onward transmission to the Minister of Education because part of our administrative duties is the peaceful resolution of industrial disputes.
“We are all worried about the current trend where all campuses are under lock and key. Our university system must be strong to enjoy global patronage. I am optimistic that our intervention will yield a good result”.
Earlier in his position, NANS/JCC leader, Com. Olanrewaju said as much as the students were angry with FG for reneging on its promises to academic staff, ASUU’s position on the closure of schools was not the best option, saying this is insensitivity and wickedness.
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Olanrewaju pointed out that the crisis between ASUU and FG was affecting the students’ lives and the future of the country, threatening that his colleagues will be on the streets protesting until the impasse is resolved amicably.
He urged ASUU and FG to come together and settle this as matured and scholarly individuals, saying, “Nigeria can’t be building its future leaders this way, if they continue with this strike, it means we have no future
While expressing disgust at the ways ASUU’s members were being treated in his presentation, FUOYE’s chairperson, Dr. Omonijo, said it was worrisome that the salary structures operational in universities were approved in 2009, lamenting that the highest-paid Professor in Nigeria earns N508,000.
