by ‘Jola Sotubo

 

The standoff between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has taken a dramatic twist after the academic body has alleged that the lives of its leaders are being threatened.

The striking lecturers, who have refused to back down on their demands since the strike started over three months ago, have accused the FG of threatening them through the use of security agents.

The body also alleged that their finances are being probed as despite the order to stop paying them salaries, they have still refused to budge.

The Nation reports:

In a statement by ASUU, University of Ibadan (UI) chapter, signed by Dr Olusegun Ajiboye, titled “ASUU strike: Union leaders go underground”, the ASUU leader alleged that he had received telephone calls warning him on his role in the ongoing strike.

 Ajiboye urged Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar to save the lives of ASUU leaders. He said no amount of threat or clampdown on the union would make them back down from the strike, until public education is saved from collapse.

 According to him, the security threat has forced many ASUU leaders to go underground. Many of their phone numbers have also been bugged.

 “Apart from finance, ASUU leaders are now being trailed all over the place. A majority of our union leaders have now gone underground while many have their telephone lines bugged. Some are now living in fear of their lives,” Ajiboye said.

 Ajiboye, who noted that ASUU members are not security threats to the nation, added that citizens are guaranteed freedom of association.

 He urged the Federal Government to leave its leaders alone and implement the agreements it reached with the union for normalcy to return to university campuses.

 “The position of ASUU is that Nigeria is a democratic country and citizens are guaranteed freedom of association. Members of the union are apprehensive for the lives of their leaders. We urge the government to leave our leaders alone. Our leaders are our servants; we are their principals; they report to us on all matters. Rather than chasing shadows, government is, once again called upon to implement the FGN/ASUU 2009 agreement. Only this will bring members to their classrooms,” Ajiboye said.

 At UI, ASUU executives disappeared from the public shortly after last Thursday’s Congress. Most of them have switched off their phones.

 The secretariat of the union has been deserted.