The Academic Staff Union of Universities has alleged that its
leaders across the country are being watched by security agencies. It
said the union leaders’ lives were under threat.
ASUU said security forces were secretly investigating its leaders’ sources of finance.
Chairman of the University of Ibadan chapter of the union, Dr. Olusegun
Ajiboye, in a release titled “ASUU strike: Union leaders go
underground,” said he had received calls warning him about his role in
the strike. He however said the union would not bow to pressure from
security agencies over its action.
Members of ASUU have been on strike since July 1 thus paralyzing academics in public universities for over three months now.
“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
shadow, government is once again called upon to implement the 2009
agreement with ASUU. Only this will bring members to their classrooms,”
he said.
According to him, the recent security threat has forced many ASUU
leaders to go underground, alleging that many of their phone numbers
have been bugged.
“Apart from the issue of finance, ASUU leaders are now being trailed
all over the place. Majority of our union leaders have now gone
underground while many have their telephone lines bugged. Some are now
living in fear for their lives,” Ajiboye said.
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