Student group cautions against breaking ASUU into factions

The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria has warned the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), against breaking into factions.

President of the group, Dr Saheed Ashafa, gave warning in Lagos, following the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige’s, confirmation that an application was received to create a parallel ASUU.

The Muslim students’ leader described splitting of ASUU as a ‘poison’ that would affect the entire Nigeria’s education system.

He said: “It is demoralising to note that a possible split rears its ugly head in ASUU. Allowing your Union to split will deplete your strength and render you voiceless. Your ever-vibrant critical stance on anti-masses policies of the government will soon become irrelevant.

“We need to remind ASUU that if the ugly discord persists, oppression of academic staff will thrive and germinate fast like a seed planted by an Angel from heaven.

“Not only ASUU members will feel the heat, but protection of human rights in the University system will also soon become a fiction on the pages of the book.

“We therefore counselASUU to realise quickly that factionalism of a union in the academic setting is a poison plotted in a tea-cup of ASUU that should not be allowed to assume a national face.”

The Islamic organisation also cautioned the Federal Government against causing a division among the lecturers, saying: “Government on the other hand, should rather promote unity and cohesion among various trade unions for overall good of the country.”

“Resorting to divide and rule will not be productive to the socio-economic development our nation. Government must honour all treaties signed with ASUU with high sense of fidelity.”