The Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-owned Universities, COPSUN, has condemned the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, for describing state-owned universities as “irrelevant and quacks”.
The ASUU National President, Prof. Victor Osodeke, on August 26, had referred to some state-owned varsities in Nigeria as quacks allegedly for backing out of the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the union since February.
Reacting, Marcus Awobifa, Secretary of the group, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said membership of the union is voluntary as such creative approaches must be developed to confront the problems of the university system in the country.
The statement said: “The pro-chancellors of our state universities and indeed members of the councils are distinguished and accomplished eminent persons who have served and still serving this nation in many capacities.
“Amongst the members are retired ambassadors, retired generals in the armed forces, retired vice-chancellors, Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), renowned politicians and other distinguished professionals.
“It is therefore insulting, contemptuous and unbecoming for the president of ASUU to state that these esteemed individuals are presiding over quack and inconsequential universities,” he said.
Mr Awobifa, however, called on ASUU to work with all stakeholders in reaching a compromise to end the prolonged strike.
According to him, it was time to respect the federal nature of the country’s government in all matters.
NAN
