The Calabar zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has described as a “poisoned chalice and unacceptable distraction” the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Loan Scheme offered by the federal government.

Ikechuku Igwenyi, the ASUU zonal coordinator for the Calabar zone, made the union’s position known at a news conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, on Monday.

Mr Igwenyi said ASUU viewed the loan as a distraction and an attempt by the federal government to impoverish members instead of honouring the 2009 agreement.

He said the union was not consulted, and their input was not considered in establishing the tertiary support loan scheme.

Mr Igwenyi said the loan conditions are so stringent that even professors in the universities cannot repay a N10 million loan in 48 months if they access it.

“They have succeeded in imposing NELFUND on the system and trapped students in a slavish loan that will cage the future of our children, and having succeeded, they have turned around to tie the hands and brains of their parents with this impossible loan scheme.

“We, therefore, make bold to reject the tertiary institutions’ staff support loan and everything it represents, because it is more or less a poisoned chalice,” Mr Igwenyi said.

Mr Igwenyi said ASUU decried the federal government’s failure to adhere to agreements, stressing that it has refused to renegotiate its conditions of service since the 2009 agreement.

He disclosed that the government had invited the leadership of the union for dialogue on August 28 to discuss the issues affecting ASUU and the universities.

The ASUU chair stated that the outcome of the meeting will have consequences and will determine the stability of universities in the country.

“The federal government of Nigeria has blatantly refused to renegotiate our conditions of service after the 2009 agreement, and as a result, lecturers have not been adequately remunerated.

“The salary structure used to pay Nigerian university workers is presently about 17 years old and out of tune with current economic realities,” he said.

He said universities and institutional structures have become obsolete, dilapidated, weak, and inadequate for effective learning.

Mr Igwenyi attributed all these to inadequate funds for revitalisation.

The conference was attended by Happiness Uduk, immediate past zonal coordinator, Calabar zone; Chidi Mba, chairperson, ASUU ABSU; and Frank Namso Ndareke, chairperson, ASUU AKSU, among others.

(NAN)