Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has indicated that members of the union may have difficulty traveling to their respective universities on Monday due to a lack of “transportation funds.”
Sunday on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, when discussing the cessation of the ASUU strike, he shared this information.
Prof. Osodeke added that, in contrast to the past, when lecturers resided in staff quarters next to school campuses, the majority of lecturers now reside distant from school campuses because most institutions are unable to house them.
He claimed that since they have not been compensated for eight months, they will be unable to afford transportation to their various schools to teach students.
“In the past, all college professors lived on campus, and you could walk to your office, but today, many professors live 20, 30 kilometers away from their workplaces; how will they pay for their commute?”
We anticipate that the government will pay the money so that these employees can return to work while we negotiate on other topics.
Confirming the suspension of the strike, he said, “We suspended the strike in the hope that the government will take the required steps, and that if the universities are open tomorrow, perhaps the lecturers will return to work.”
“We are resuming work in accordance with a court order because the concerns have not been fully resolved and no agreement has been reached.”
“We also expect, as mentioned by the Speaker [of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila], that this problem would be resolved in a relatively short period of time.”
“Our professors will educate, but you can’t expect someone who is owed eight months’ salary, potentially from his bank; he has collected more than N1 million as a loan, and you expect him to teach class.”
“You cannot expect a hungry man to attend school and be receptive.”