ASUU strike: Benue varsity VC backs no-work, no-pay policy, gives reasons

The Vice Chancellor of Benue State University, Professor Tor Iorapuu has aired his opinion on the ongoing ASUU strike and local crisis rocking the state university.

Prof Iorapuu in a recent chat with newsmen said that “as intellectuals, there are certain things we do and get away with, and when we do them and get away with them, we think they are norms. The truth is that it is not necessarily a norm. But it may be for the sake of parents, students, and the public, and because many people may have cried to the government to do this, it goes ahead and does it (paying for the period on strike).
“We must recognise that government’s action is taken not out of weakness or fear, but out of a sense of responsibility to society for children to receive an education. We now think it is because we are superb.

He went further to say that, “Somebody sent me a text about a court judgement this morning that was very clear and they have cited (the judgement) it many times of people who don’t work, don’t get paid. Except if the university has sacked you, it pays your outstanding. But where you have not worked, you are not paid.

“The point I am trying to make is that by virtue of who we are and the importance of who we are to society, the government succumbs. Government does that, not on account of weakness and not on account of legality but on account of the people it serves. We (lecturers) must accept that when the government gives in for the sake of things like this, we should not consider it legitimate. It is not your right.

“That is the reason I said earlier that as intellectuals we must have many plans for our struggle, plan ABCDE, and I want to believe that if we expand conversations and find time to discuss with others, it will pay off.” He said.