Piwuna said the union remained united and would not succumb to the government’s attempt to divide the academic community.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reacted to the Federal Government's recent directive of 'no work, no pay' policy.
ASUU urged the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, to focus on resolving the ongoing dispute with the union instead of issuing threats.
This comes barely 24 hours after university lecturers embarked on a two-week warning strike to press home their demands.
ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, while speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, dismissed the Federal Government’s ‘No Work, No Pay’ directive, insisting that the union will not be intimidated by threats.
Piwuna said the union remained united and would not succumb to the government’s attempt to divide the academic community.
According to him, all academic bodies, such as the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) and the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), were standing together in support of the strike action.
He said, “We don’t respond to threats, and nobody can threaten us.
“He is threatening us, writing to NAMDA and CONUA, telling them they can get their salaries. He wants to divide us, but we are united in this matter.
“CONUA is with us, NAMDA is with us, SSANU is with us, NASU is with us. The polytechnics and colleges of education are also with us.”
Piwuna also hinted that the union remained open to dialogue and was ready to engage with the Federal Government.
He added, “He has got something coming. He had better sit down and solve this problem or he will fail in trying to divide us.
“Today, I received a call from the Minister of State for Labour. She said she has been directed to intervene and get this matter resolved. ASUU is willing. We are ready and available to discuss this matter once and for all.”