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 Division stormed the place.
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.
Source: thepunch.ng
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