The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said that it ordered its members, who are lecturers across universities, to embark on strike amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, because there would never be a perfect time approved to take that action.

The union’s President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, on Tuesday, March 31st, 2020, also inaugurated the ASUU COVID-19 intervention, in a move to sensitise the general public and monitor the spread of the vicious virus at the University of Ibadan.

The intervention materials, created by the University of Ibadan branch of the ASUU, consisted of about 1,000 100ml of hand sanitisers. The programme included sensitisation campaign, through jingles in both English and Pidgin languages; posters in three languages and hand gloves.

Ogunyemi, who was represented by the ASUU’s coordinator, UI zone, Prof. Ade Adejumo, said,

We cannot confront the challenge by bemoaning our fate. What is expected is that we join forces to do what China and other well-organised societies have done to flatten the curve.

ASUU acknowledges that public information, education and communication are key. To demonstrate our concerns for the welfare and well-being of the Nigerian people, ASUU members nationwide shall be willing to work with medical and paramedical workers as volunteers in their public enlightenment and professional intervention initiatives.

All branches shall explore areas of strategic collaboration with federal, state and local governments to provide support in terms of information and expert skills drawn from our members across the nation. For us in ASUU, this is not an occasion for blame game or buck passing. However, it calls for sober reflection on what we need to do differently with our health and education.

Ogunyemi said the coronavirus crisis had exposed the country’s “naked and empty teaching hospitals”, which justified its industrial action to demand revitalisation funds for public universities.

However, he said the union would be willing volunteers nationwide during the coronavirus pandemic, to work with the health workers involved in government’s fight against the deadly disease.

He said,

With qualitative and accessible university education, we can guarantee a storehouse of knowledge in scientists, doctors, nurses, laboratory technologists and other medical and paramedical personnel for coping with a global pandemic such as COVID-19. But it appears our universities have no place in the current efforts of government.

See, for instance, how naked and empty our teaching hospitals turned out to be when threatened by the early wave of COVID-19. Yet, these are laboratories established to produce medical and paramedical personnel for our country.

The Chairman, ASUU, UI, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, said that regardless of not being paid two-month salary, the union would not abandon Nigerians in time of crisis.

He said the intervention materials would be distributed to the University College Hospital, the Oyo State Ministry of Health, the university health centre and the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

Akinwole said,

It is not surprising that our health facilities were not equipped and staffed to respond to emergencies such as the Coronavirus pandemic. All kits donated by Chinese billionaire, Jack Ma Foundation, must be distributed to medical centres to conduct more tests.

ASUU has always argued against the underfunding of education and health. Nigerians should demand that government must release funds to public hospitals to scale up their response to the disease. This can be done through provision of funding for laboratories in Nigerian universities to mass-produce hand sanitisers, face masks and oxygen plants.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.