Professor Emmanuel Osadeke, the National President of the Academic Staff Universities Union (ASUU), has praised union members for their unwavering perseverance, selflessness, and unselfish service to the organization in the face of adversity, particularly during their fight against the Federal government’s implementation of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
Speaking at the University of Uyo on the occasion of the ASUU UniUyo Heroes’ and Indigent Students Award Day Celebration, Prof. Osadeke advised participants to stick with the program in spite of obstacles.
Osadeke reminded them that the recent court victory was not handed to them on a silver platter; therefore, they needed to band together to fight for the welfare of their members, even if he acknowledged that members had suffered and had had their paychecks suspended for years.
“I wish to express my gratitude to all members, but especially to the awardees, for their selflessness and dedication to the union’s well-being. As you are aware, it was because to your perseverance that we were able to win the IPPIS case in court. As such, we must continue to fortify our bond in order to accomplish all of our goals.
“We chose to establish this Heroes Day because people have suffered and given up things, and money cannot make up for that; only a person’s name can. Our live heroes are those we created.
Additionally, he voiced concern about what he saw as the vice chancellors’ bastardization of the hiring process for lecturers, claiming that hiring academic staff members for universities had turned into a political constituency project.
He said, “Up until now, hiring at universities was done through advertisements and demanding interviews, but how do people come here anymore? Through provisional appointments, specifically. That is the issue we are currently facing. Although the number of staff members has tripled, I am not aware of any university that has advertised in the last six to ten years.
Vice-Chancellors just took a seat and appointed individuals from traditional Rulers, Governors, and other political figures as teachers in Nigerian universities. The majority of these individuals are now scavengers in the system, pursuing money and other benefits. The ASUU chairpersons must battle it as well in order to restore order to the system.
During his keynote speech, Professor Desmond Wilson bemoaned the fact that the government’s use of fifth columnists and other agents to sow confusion has complicated the Union’s struggles. He urged all union members to continue being selfless and dedicated to the cause of bettering everyone’s lives and saving Nigerian universities.
The university’s vice-chancellor, professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, who was speaking on behalf of professor Ben Etuk, praised ASUU for its altruistic commitment to mankind and mentioned how much its responsibilities had improved the welfare of university employees.