The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Federal University of Technology Minna, Chapter, has called on the Federal Government not to treat its members as casual workers.
The Chairman of the union, Gbolahan Bolarin, who made this known during a protest in Minna yesterday, described the payment of half salaries to university lecturers as demeaning.
He revealed that the Federal University of Technology, Minna has resolved to reject in totality the reduction of Nigerian scholars to casual workers and attempts by the Minister of labor and employment, Chris Ngige to destroy public universities under any guise.
Speaking further, he noted the association would not be ridiculed because Nigerian lecturers are among the best in the world.
Bolarin also disclosed that the Federal Government was pushing lecturers to a point where the aggression would be shifted to innocent students, adding that the union would do everything to resist the plans of the government.
Also speaking, the President of the Students Union Government at the university, Shuaib Yahaya, expressed concern that the survival of the Nigerian university system is not only the responsibility of the lecturers but also students and everyone.
He buttressed that the SUG joined the protest to show support for the lectures and was willing to go to any extent to ensure that their lecturers are treated better.
A student of the university, Muhammed Musa, who spoke on behalf of others, expressed concern about the lingering crisis between the government and ASUU and appealed to the two parties to resolve the issues to enable the students to continue their studies without any hitches.
