The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has faulted a claim by the Minister of Labour and Employment, CHRIS NGIGE that ASUU cannot claim to be autonomous when the government pays lecturers.

The Union said University autonomy is backed by law.

ASUU president, Professor ABIODUN OGUNYEMI said NGIGE cannot unilaterally alter the law.

Lecturers have refused to call off their seven-month strike due to disagreement with the government over the Integrated Personnel Payroll System (IPPIS) and other demands.

Professor OGUNYEMI accused the political class of not investing enough to develop infrastructure in public universities.

According to him, Nigerian universities could not respond to the outbreak of COVID-19 because the institutions were not equipped to deal with such pandemics.