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.

Source: www.akinlexupdate.com