Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reacted to the federal government’s directives for the full reopening of all schools in Nigeria including tertiary institutions and unity colleges.
The body’s president, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, on Friday, October 2, said institutions cannot reopen because ASUU is still on strike.
Ogunyemi, who noted that the federal government has the right to reopen, however, stated that lecturers will continue to withhold their service.
Addressing the controversy over the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Ogunyemi said the platform is not effective.
According to him, IPPS is creating another a wide avenue for government officials to siphon the public funds.
The university don said: “We did not close the universities. It is the right of the government to reopen the universities. It is also the right of lecturers to withhold their services.”
Professor Ogunyemi made this known during a Town and Gown meeting at the African Hall in the University of Ilorin, Kwara state.
The meeting, which was also attended by parents, students union leaders and alumni of universities in the country, saw conversation lengthened down to the reopening of the universities.
According to him, schools cannot be reopened unless the government showed responsibility and do the needfuls on the agreements between the two parties.