The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Usman Danfodio University Chapter has debunked claims by Ngige that its medical lecturers have back out from the ongoing strike embarked upon by the union.
In a statement at the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Sokoto, yesterday, the chairperson of the union, Prof. Muhammad Almustapha accused Ngige of misleading Nigerians.
He added that recently Ngige in an interview with Arise TV on 14 July, 2022, had said the medical lecturers of the university had suspended the strike since it didn’t produce the desired results.
“Ngige on the July 14, 2022 pitiably and shamefully said medical lecturers of the university are at work, they have written their Vice Chancellor that they are at work.”
He disclosed that the statement was the imagination of the minister which was intended to misinform the general public against the sensibility of Nigerians.He explained that Ngige depicted his inhumane nature and wanton disregard for truth, honesty and integrity a character unbefitting of a federal minister.
“How could a senior minister of the Federal Republic, who is supposed to be an elder statesman continue to dish out disinformation to over 200 million Nigerians, knowing fully well that he was not saying the truth,” he added.
He stressed that Ngige had not been telling the president the true picture of things about the negotiations, calling on the minister to resign with immediate effect.
He further disclosed that the entire members of ASUU, UDUS branch including the College of Health Sciences were fully on total and comprehensive strike and have never had the intention of calling it off until federal government wake up to its responsibilities.
“Contrary to Ngige claims there is no letter written by the Vice Chancellor of Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto or any of his representatives or any union officials, depicting that the medical lecturers are not on strike.
“We challenge the self-acclaimed “Conciliator,” Dr. Chris Ngige to produce any factual evidence to back his crooked claims,” he stated.He said his calling on Ngige to resign was not on personal hatred for the minister, but based on his antics and biasness which earned Nigeria number of strikes during his tenure.