COVID-19: ASUU, vice-chancellors clash over reopening of universities
- ASUU and vice-chancellors have declared contrasting positions on the reopening of universities
- Both unions have reacted differently to the challenges posed by COVID-19 cases in universities
- Nigerians on the other hand seem to be on the side of the vice-chancellors
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A disagreement has erupted between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and vice-chancellors of public universities over the reopening of the tertiary institutions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
While ASUU is cautioning against the reopening of Nigerian universities due to the pandemic, the vice-chancellors have dismissed the concerns raised by the union.
Source: UGC
Vanguard reported that some vice-chancellors of several universities who did not want to be named insisted that the institutions were ready for academic activities.
The vice-chancellors of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Felix Salako, openly disagreed with ASUU’s position.
He disclosed that universities, including his, had made adequate preparations for resumption.
Salako said:
“It is also glaring even to the blinds that FUNAAB management kick-started the second round of fumigation of every nook and cranny of the university, including unions secretariat, two weeks ago."
Meanwhile, some Nigerians on social media have criticised ASUU for saying it may be unsafe to reopen universities due to the risks of COVID-19 infection.
The union’s claim that tertiary institutions were not ready for safe reopening has angered some Nigerians.
Many citizens who reacted to the report questioned why the union would make such a statement when it just called off its nine-month strike.
In another news, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has announced that unless the ministry of education gives a contrary directive, the date for resumption of schools remains Monday, January 18.
This was disclosed by the national coordinator of the PTF, Sani Aliu, during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, January 12, Punch reported.
Aliu noted that the date is to be adhered to in all states, except the ministry deems it fit to change based on the situation of the pandemic in the country.
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COVID-19: Is Nigeria ready for another lockdown | Legit TV
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