The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has asked the Professor Emmanuel Osodeke’s led National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to retrace its steps “as the union has derailed and fast losing its steam and support of students and Nigerians.”
The vice president of NANS, Comrade Ezenagu Victor, in a statement he issued yesterday, said the students were unhappy with the development at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, where some lecturers were reported to have been involved in extorting money from students to check their results, as well as cash and sex for grades.
The students described the allegations which they have confirmed to be true as most unfortunate considering the fact that Osodeke who is the ASUU president happens to come from the university and nothing has been done to address the situation to show example.
Victor, who recalled the recent crisis allegedly caused by ASUU at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, (FUTO), when the union asked the vice chancellor to resign over unfounded allegations, and noted that all these issues coupled with prolonged strike by ASUU have contributed in making the union lose the support and sympathy of Nigerians.
“Who will bell the cat? Certainly not ASUU under the failed leadership of Professor Emmanuel Osodeke’s led NEC. The earlier the union retraces its part, the better for her members.
“NANS will soon declare Professor Emmanuel Osodeke led ASUU a persona non grata if the happening in his school continues unabated,” Victor said.
The statement reads in parts: “ASUU is obviously witnessing her most unpopular time ever. Before now ASUU was among the most popular unions in the country.
“At some point, it was even difficult to tell which between NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) and ASUU was an affiliate of the other. As it stands now, the Union has been relegated to the background amongst the list of formidable trade Unions in the country. No thanks to the man currently steering the wheels.
“The likes of Dr. Festus Iyayi, and Dr Agbonfoh B. who were detained in 1987 over the struggle before the first proscription of the Union in 1988 will be wondering how Professor Emmanuel Osodeke emerged as the current President of ASUU.
“Today’s ASUU led by Professor Emmanuel Osodeke has derailed from the norms. Unlike what was obtainable before now, the Union is a pity of its old self. Not too long ago, ASUU embarked on an eight months long strike.
“During this period of industrial dispute, members of the Union wallowed in abject poverty and struggled to survive. The president of the union appeared on a live television and referred to her members in some Universities who, due to hardship and other prevailing circumstances, had to back out of the industrial dispute, as quacks.”
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