The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Federal University of Technology, Lokoja chapter, has demanded the resignation of both the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, and his counterpart in charge of education, Adamu Adamu, for their improper handling of the crisis between the union and the Federal Government.
This was said by the union at a Tuesday solidarity demonstration on the school’s Adankolo campus.
As instructed by its parent organization, the union already designated Tuesday a lecture-free day.
After early-morning discussion among union members, the scene was set for a calm protest held inside the campus up to the main gate. Participants held placards reading, “Say no to casualization of lecturers,” “Ngige must go,” and “Okija shrine awaits you.”
Others wrote, “Pay our eight months salaries,” “Stop playing politics with our education,” “We are not casual workers,” “Ngige, Adamu must go.”
Speaking to reporters during the rally was Dr. Joshua Silas, the chairman of the FUL branch of ASUU. He claimed that the way the Federal Government, as represented by the two ministers, handled the situation made it clear that they intended to shut down public universities.
“We are calling on the President to remove the ministers before they completely destroy our educational system. They want to turn university lecturers into casual workers. This Government wants to destroy public institutions,” they said.
If the President did not heed their demands, Silas responded that the National Executive Council would decide what to do next. He added that “what we are doing today is to sensitize the public to how Ngige and Adamu were destroying our educational system.
“We also want to tell the public that we should not be blamed when we decide to take action. This Government wants to destroy education, they want to destroy public institutions.”
