Fed Varsity Wukari ASUU, Protests Neglect, Rejects Federal Government’s Loan Scheme
By Henry Agbu
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University Wukari in Taraba State, has staged a protest over what it described as the Federal Government’s continued neglect and failure to implement long-standing agreements with the union.
Leading the protest, Professor Asabe Mercy, Chairperson of ASUU FUW, said the union has outrightly rejected the newly introduced Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund loan scheme, stressing that lecturers deserve improved salaries and welfare, not loans.
She warned that the public should hold the government accountable should the university system be shut down again, insisting that the union will not shy away from taking to the trenches.
“They reach agreements but fail to implement them. When we keep asking and calling, nothing new comes up, and we as a union are frustrated,” she lamented.
“We are asking the public to hold the government responsible should we shut down the university system, because the public always accuses ASUU. We want Nigerians to know it is not ASUU but the government.”
The union demanded payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), lamenting that the N50 billion recently released was not up to 10 percent of what is owed.
It also decried the absence of revitalization funds, stagnated salaries, and poor welfare conditions.
“Our take-home cannot take us home. And to add salt to injury, they want to give us loans. We are rejecting that outrightly. Give us our salaries. Agreement is agreement. Enough is enough,” Prof. Mercy added.
Also speaking, former ASUU Chairman, Prof. Kidzu Oweh, condemned the poor remuneration of lecturers, describing it as humiliating.
“What is ₦300,000 for a professor? Is there anyone here who takes home more than ₦300,000?” he asked.
“Check the salary of a local government councillor. I learnt today that the National Assembly wants to increase the salaries of politicians, and yet they are asking us to take loans. After taking loans, we will still pay them back. Is that loan to protect us or to enslave us? Let them convert the loan to our salaries and give us our arrears.”
ASUU FUW insisted that it is determined to continue the struggle until the Federal Government honours its promises, warning that the education sector cannot thrive on neglect and half measures.
