Members of the National Association of Non Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities (NANTSNU) platform have defended their decision to pull out of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).
The union said its action was based on the need to bring sanity and make the union a genuine platform to promote unity and fight one man show in the Union.
National President of the association, Comrade Niyi Akinibi, in an interview with Thenewstrack, said the decision to pull out of NASU is final.
According to him, members’ interest in the University system has been in jeopardy under NASU because the leadership of the union are not workers in the University system.
He noted that those at the helms of affairs in NASU Headquarters lack the understanding of the system and the attendants predicaments it poses to members.
His words, “We sincerely welcome you to National Association of Non Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities (NANTSNU) platform. The decision to open this platform arose from the need to keep you informed on the reasons why we need to have our own University based Union like ASUU, SSANU and NAAT.
“You will agree with us that of all the Unions we have currently in the University system in Nigeria, only NASU is not a University based Union. NASU is an amalgamation of Trade Groups from Primary and Secondary Schools, Research Institutions, Teaching Hospitals, Colleges of Educations, Polytechnics and Universities.
“Taking you through history, SSANU and NAAT were part of NASU in years back but they left to form their own University based Union because of the inconveniences posed to them in the system by their marriage.
“The time has come for us too to take a decisive decision about our future in the University system as we cannot continue to subscribe to a Union that does not solely belong to our system.
“The present NASU is amorphous and not a University Based Union like ASUU, SSANU and NAAT, and our interest in the University system had been in jeopardy under NASU because the leadership of NASU are not workers in the University system like ASUU, SSANU and NAAT.
” Those at the helms of affairs in NASU Headquarters lack the understanding of the system and the attendants predicaments it poses to us.
“A number of issues which bordered on our continued existence in the University system are begging for solutions and answers because those at the helms of affairs are not part of us in the University system”.
