Police on Wednesday in Abuja stopped the
University of Abuja chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities
from staging a peaceful rally.
The lecturers had wanted to protest
against the refusal of the Federal Government to honour the 2009
Agreement reached with the union.
An eye witness said the lecturers had
gathered in front of the mini campus of the university as early as 8.am
before the men and officers from the Gwagwalada Police
The Police restricted the varsity teachers to the gate of the school.
The UNIABUJA’s ASUU Chairman, Dr. Clement Chup, confirmed the incidence to our correspondent.
He said, “We actually wanted to stage a
peaceful protest when the police came and started firing tear gas. They
restricted us to the gate of the mini campus. Initially, we resisted
because it is our fundamental right to embark on a peaceful protest. We
had planned to move by 10am, but they even prevented us from entering
the campus.
“They told us that we were not allowed
to protest. Meanwhile, they did not give us any reason. It took time
before they were able to disperse us. They were firing tear gas
indiscriminately.”
Chup said the union remained committed to the struggle to liberate university education in the country.
ASUU has been on nationwide strike since
July 1 to protest the failure of government to honour a 2009 agreement
reached with the union.
The union is demanding better condition
of service and proper funding of the university system and payment of
arrears of a bailout fund.
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