ASUU Kicks against Reopening of Public Universities

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared that public universities were not ready to re-open despite the National Universities Commission (NUC) asking them to prepare for resumption according to COVID-19 safety protocols.

The union also questioned non-remittance of check-off dues from members’ salaries under the

Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for about four months.

Addressing reporters at the minicampus of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, the Coordinator of the Lagos Zone of ASUU, Prof. Olusiji Sowande, warned that it would be “suicidal” for universities to resume in an environment devoid of facilities to observe safe physical and social distancing amid the pandemic.

ASUU said no concrete steps had been taken by the governments in any of the country’s public universities to safeguard the health of their members and students from the COVID-19 pandemic should the universities resume as directed by NUC.

Olusiji, who addressed reporters in company of branch chairmen from the zone – including Dr. Joel Okewale (OOU); Dr. Adebayo Oni (Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta); Isaac Oyewumi(Lagos University, Ojo); Tunji Ettu (Tai Solarin University of Education, TASUED, Ijagun); and Dele Ashiru of the University of Lagos, noted that hostel accommodation was inadequate for students.