TheCable

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to depend on students and lecturers for the general election. 

Deji Omole, chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan (UI), made this known in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, on Thursday.

In December, Festus Okoye, chairman, information and voter education committee, INEC had said f the strike continued till February, it would inadvertently affect the elections.

But Omole said even if ASUU was not on strike, its members participation in the election would have been voluntary and subject to each individual.

“We are not part of INEC, therefore, INEC can look elsewhere for ad-hoc staff to conduct the election,” he said.

“What Nigerians are only interested in is a credible election and not participation of lecturers. Even when we were not on strike, not all our members are interested in participating in the elections, because it is a voluntary thing.

“Whoever that feels like participating in the elections can go ahead to participate. If you check in the letter addressed to individuals that have participated in the election in the past, the letter is addressed to individuals and not to ASUU.”

Omole said that the union sticks to its demand that the 2017 memorandum of understanding between it and the federal government is followed through.

He said once there is proof of commitment from government, the ASUU leadership would communicate with various chapters which would further escalate it to national national level for necessary action.