The Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) said it will not condone any increase in the prices of petroleum products.

Its National President, Dr. Nasir Isa, stated this during a media briefing, reiterating that such increment would worsen the hardship Nigerians were currently experiencing.

Isa insisted that the Federal Government should step up efforts at implementing its pronounced policies.

He further stated, ‘The current fuel crisis has adverse consequences on the socio-economic life of the nation; it has increased the cost of food, transportation, electric power as well as the general cost of living.

‘It has widened the distance between the government and the people and created distrust between the people and the government.

‘The government should implement its proclaimed policy on the oil and gas sector; on no account should this result in any increase in the price of petroleum products because Nigerians have suffered enough.

‘If any increment of the prices of petroleum products is forced upon the people, our union will join Nigerian workers to resist until the increase is reversed.’

Isa also revealed that there was no provision in the 2016 budget to back up the policy statement about scholarship for students pursuing science education, insisting that government was slow in implementing its policies in the oil and gas sector.

With regards to the power crisis, the ASUU president said that the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and the Generating Companies (GENCOs) had failed Nigerians.

‘In particular, the DISCOs were charged to, among other things, provide adequate and safe electricity to consumers; improve on the existing plan to issue meters to consumers and ensure energy efficiency in supply to customers.

‘Except for the first three to four weeks to usher in the current national government, Nigerians have experienced more days of darkness than light in most communities.

‘What is worse, Nigerians are made to pay for electricity that they do not consume in the name of estimated bills.

‘Despite, massive protest of workers and other patriotic Nigerians, the DISCOs are forcing down the hiked electricity tariff regimes down the throat of the citizens,’ Isa added.

Concerning the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Ise said it was a violation of university autonomy and as such not acceptable to the university system.

‘There were lots of incursions, including circulars which breached university autonomy and academic freedom.’