Nigerians outraged as Buhari orders lecture resumption without meeting ASUU demands
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nigerians have expressed shock and outrage at the order given by Muhammadu Buhari for Vice Chancellors (VCs) to reopen universities so lecturers would be compelled to end their strike, return to the classroom, and teach on empty stomachs.
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have not been paid since they began their strike on 14 February to demand proper funding of tertiary education by a negligent political elite who educate their own children abroad.
The National Universities Commission (NUC), at the behest of the President, on Monday ordered the resumption of lectures in reaction to the appeal ASUU filed on Friday against the judgment of the National Industrial Court (NIC) gave on 14 September.
ASUU argued in the appeal that due process of law was not followed in the ruling of the NIC which ordered lecturers to end their strike and return to campus, pending the determination of the substantive suit filed by the federal government.
ASUU applied for a stay of execution of the judgment delivered by Justice Polycarp Hamman.
Among other points of law, ASUU insisted in the appeal that
- The trial judge acted ultra vires and misdirected himself when he unlawfully assumed jurisdiction to entertain the matter, and what was granted as an interlocutory order was the same relief the government sought in its substantive suit.
- “The findings of the trial court were contrary to and against the weight of evidence led at the trial.”
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Reaction of Nigerians on Twitter
The order given by Buhari for VCs to reopen universities without resolving the strike elicited outrage from Nigerians on Twitter, as reported below by The PUNCH
@kingsleyiosagi1
“It’s so unfortunate. In 2014, the same Buhari was against Goodluck Jonathan that Asuu strike has taken too long. Now it’s his turn.
“No wonder they think there is a political party using ASUU because they know what they used ASUU to achieve in the past government.”
@sagecares
“FG is weak to meet demands but has the strength to (give) order.”
@KOsaigbevo
“Imagine a lecturer with unpaid salaries for months setting and marking exam questions. Mentally, are they ready to lecture? Plus, you can only force a horse to the river, you can’t force it to drink.
“It’s so sad to see innocent students caught up in a fight they know nothing about.”
@ogundeleIsrae10
“Ordering them to resume without meeting their demands or paying their backlog salaries is as good as they don’t resume. You cannot force them to lecture on an empty stomach.”
@ernesticano11
“It is only those with same bad minds with FG that will support them in this their nonsense order.
“Why haven’t we heard that presidents, governors, senators, honourables, ministers and soldiers are being owed? ASUU should never back out of this journey. They must stand and fight FG.”