COVID-19: Reopen varsities, Congress of University Academics urges FG

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has urged the Federal Government to reopen universities as soon as possible and put in place facilities and COVID-19 protocols that will facilitate resumption in the institutions.

“CONUA members are ready to resume work. Everything necessary in terms of COVID-19 protocols must be put in place before reopening the universities in order to prevent students and staff from contracting the disease.

“The education sector cannot continue to stagnate, as it appears that COVID-19 would continue to be a threat and we must, in the circumstance, learn to strive to lead our normal life.

“Union urge government to make available everything that can help our universities to resume work as is being done elsewhere in the world,’’ the union said in a statement by Dr ‘Niyi Sunmonu, the National Coordinator, a copy of which was given to Persecondnews.

The union’s position is a sequel to its National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja on Friday, August 21, 2020.

CONUA condemned the intimidation and harassment of some of its members by some university administrations and some other unions within the university system, restating its belief in freedom of association as entrenched in the Nigerian constitution, a provision which allows every academic the freedom to join any union of his or her choice.

“No amount of molestation or vilification can take the union away from the path of progressive unionism. Adequate measures, as far as the law and constitution of Nigeria permits, will be taken against anyone who is using intimidation or employing any other odious means to threaten our members.’’

While lauding university administrations that held meetings to promote academic staff members during the COVID-19 lockdown, the union condemned in strong terms those administrations which failed to organize such exercises as academic staff promotions in some universities had not been conducted for about five to 10 years.

It said: “The union received information to the effect that some universities held Senate meetings and Congregation elections but refused to convene any meeting to carry out the promotion of its members, simply because some people threatened that such promotions if ever announced, will be reversed.

“CONUA leadership feels outraged by such pronouncements and expresses its resolve to support any effort by university administrations to facilitate the due promotion of academic staff members.’’