No threat, according to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State branch, will compel State University workers to halt their strike.
In response to a statement from the Kaduna State University (KASU) administration warning academic staff union to return to work or face sanctions, Dr. Peter Adamu, the Union Chairman, explained that the strike was legal and supported by both national and international laws in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna.
He emphasised that lecturers engaged in an activity that will benefit the University are not subject to any sanctions under any provision of Kaduna State University law or the Staff Condition of Service.
He went on to say that that right was guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution, which is the supreme law that governs all affairs in the nation.
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He said that the strike was being held for the benefit of Kaduna State University and the entire university system, noting that the majority of the university’s structures and staff development programmes were all the results of such struggles.
Adamu asserted that the academic staff is not worried about any potential threats, adding that such threats have occurred even during the military regime and have been rejected by a court of law.
He reaffirmed that the strike had not been put on hold and said that they would continue with their industrial action until the Federal Government gave them a favourable response.
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The Union Chairman clarified that it was not the Union that shut down the school in response to the examination that was earlier carried out by the school administration while there was industrial action.
Dr. Adamu clarified that the management might go above and beyond to use any way to administer the exams; the school could choose to utilise old questions or anything else, but they are not involved, and their members are adamant to maintain the strike.
He urged both the Kaduna State Government and the students to see that the struggle was for everyone’s good, pointing out that a fight like this was necessary to prevent Nigeria’s public institutions from completely collapsing.
