Lecturers under the aegis of Congress of University Academics have asked the Federal Government to reopen tertiary institutions in the country.
CONUA is a breakaway faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
CONUA made this known in a press statement on Wednesday after its National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja
The statement , which was signed by CONUA’ s National Coordinator, Niyi Sunmonu , was titled ‘ Stop intimidation of CONUA members
The lecturers urged FG to reopen universities as soon as possible .
The statement added , “ The meeting called on the government to reopen universities as soon as possible as CONUA members are ready to resume work .
“ It however added that 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 .
“ CONUA further stated that 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 thus urged the government to make available everything that can help our universities to resume work as is being done elsewhere in the world . ”
CONUA also condemned alleged intimidation and harassment of some of its members by “ some university administrations and some other unions within the University” .
The statement added in part, “ While saluting those university administrations which held meetings to promote academic staff members during the COVID – 19 lockdown , the Union condemned in strong terms those administrations who failed to organise such exercises, despite that several academic staff have been waiting for their promotions for a long time, with some spanning five to ten years .
“ 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 felt outraged by such pronouncements and expressed its resolve to support any efforts by university administrations to facilitate the due promotion of academic staff members . ”
