The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed lecturers not to engage in online lectures for students stating that e-learning cannot work in Nigeria.
The President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, gave the directive in a statement.
Schools at all levels have remained shut since March following the spread of the Coronavirus Disease pandemic to Nigeria in February.
However, while schools at lower levels, especially the privately-owned ones, have commenced online teaching, universities are yet to.
And the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 as of June 15, 2020, said it was not safe to reopen schools.
Ogunyemi, in the memo, said lecturers must not engage in online teaching because without Senate’s approval, a vice chancellor has no power to change the mode of lecture delivery.
He said: “Therefore, do not obey any vice chancellor’s call for online teaching under whatever guise.
“It is a blatant violation of the university laws.
“It is in the interest of our universities, our students, and our nation to resist any attempt to undermine the ongoing struggle.”
On why e-learning cannot work in Nigeria, the ASUU chairman said:
“It (virtual learning) will not work. Let’s break it down; when you talk of virtual learning practically online teaching and learning, I think the first question we need to ask ourselves is: do we have the infrastructure for that? When you talk of infrastructures in the institutions concerned, do they have facilities and if you want to take it to individuals, can they afford it?”
ASUU had declared a strike following a dispute with the Federal Government over the mode of payment of lecturers.
Ogunyemi warned chairpersons and other executive members not attend or respond to invitations to meetings on matters affecting the union without clearance from their zonal coordinators.
He said no state university branch of the union should meet with its Visitor without the permission of the National Strike Coordinator Committee through ASUU president.
