The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the federal government of misinforming the public about meeting its (ASUU’s) demands.

This was made known by the union’s Ibadan zonal coordinator, Prof Ade Adejumo at a press conference in Ilorin on Wednesday.

The Ibadan zone comprises the University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osun State University and Kwara State University.

In his addressed entitled ‘FGN, stop the blackmail, attend to our demands’, Adejumo said despite the various engagements, the government had refused to meet any of ASUU’s demands that would eventually end the strike.

The union particularly accused the FG of peddling lies and misinforming the public about the demands of ASUU in order to paint the union black in the eyes of the stakeholders.

He dismissed as lies, contradictory claims by the federal government spokespersons, including the minister of labour and employment, Dr Chris Ngige and the permanent secretary ministry of education, Mr. Sunday Echono at different occasions that the government had met unsubstantiated demands of the union.

“We have decided to weather the storm until the needful is done. ASUU is proud to be the last union standing against tyranny and impunity of power in Nigeria as we are beyond intimidation, being cajoled or bought over.

“It is instructive to note that the FGN has not offered anything meaningful apart from what is presented and was rejected by ASUU at the meeting of October 28, 2020.”

He accused the government of “callously” using hunger as a weapon to fight the union.

“Apart from stifling the union of funds by refusing to remit the check-off dues, they deducted from members’ salaries on behalf of the Union between February and June 2020, the FGN has deliberately starved members by withholding their monthly salaries. Members are owed between four and eight months salaries as at now,” he added.

He urged the government to welcome ASUU’s ongoing innovation of a more robust system of human resources management and compensation, called the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

He said UTAS will address the peculiarities of universities and end inappropriate recruitments in the system.

He said ASUU is concerned with, “sound and quality education that will combat ignorance among the children of the rich and the poor.”

Adejumo said the primary and secondary public schools in Nigeria were systematically destroyed by the government and the “university education is also decaying.”

He said “ASUU members are ready to work at any time” but lamented that the government was not ready to put in place conducive environment for learning for students and lecturers.”

Chairpersons who attended the meeting were Prof Moyosore Ajao, ASUU, UNILORIN; Prof Ayoola Akinwole, ASUU, UI; Dr Biodun Olaniran, ASUU, LAUTECH; Dr Femi Abanikanda ASUU, UNIOSUN and Dr Dauda Adeshola ASUU, KWASU.