Universities Lecturers Under Congress of University Academics (CONUA) Asks Federal Government To Reopen Schools Immediately
Breakaway lecturers under the aegis of Congress of University Academics have asked the Federal Government to reopen tertiary institutions in the country, the Punch reports.
CONUA is a breakaway faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU and this report is coming on the heels of protests and calls by Nigerian students calling on the govt to reopen schools, especially tertiary institutions in the country which has been closed since March 2020.
The Punch reports that CONUA made this known in a press statement on Wednesday after its National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja.
The statement, which was signed by CONUA’s National Coordinator, Niyi Sunmonu, was titled ‘Stop intimidation of CONUA members are ready to resume work.
“It however added that everything necessary in terms of COVID-19 protocols must be put in place before reopening the universities in order to prevent students and staff from contracting the disease.
“CONUA further stated that the education sector cannot continue to stagnate, as it appears that COVID-19 would continue to be a threat and we must, in the circumstance, learn to strive to lead our normal life.
“Union thus urged the government to make available everything that can help our universities to resume work as is being done elsewhere in the world”
CONUA also condemned alleged intimidation and harassment of some of its members by “some university administrations and some other unions within the University”.
The statement added in part, “While saluting those university administrations which held meetings to promote academic staff members during the COVID-19 lockdown, the Union condemned in strong terms those administrations who failed to organise such exercises, despite that several academic staff have been waiting for their promotions for a long time, with some spanning five to ten years.
The Union received information to the effect that some universities held Senate meetings and Congregation elections but refused to convene any meeting to carry out the promotion of its members, simply because some people threatened that such promotions, if ever announced, will be reversed.
“CONUA leadership worked outraged by such pronouncements and expressed its resolve to support any efforts by university administrations to facilitate the due promotion of academic staff members.”
Recall that schools in Nigeria have been under lock and key since March when the Federal Govt closed all schools to curb the spreads of the Corona Virus disease. While other sectors have reopened, the educational sector is yet to see the green light for resumption