The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has donated food and non-food items to the Internally Displaced Persons in Benue State.
The union also called on the federal government to ensure the return of the displaced persons to their ancestral homes.
The National President of the Union, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke stated this in Makurdi on Tuesday while donating relief materials to the displaced persons at Abagana camp along Makurdi/Laafia road in Makurdi.
Represented by the National Resource Person, Professor Ralpy Ofokwu said the donation was a national programme embarked upon by the union as the same programme was going on simultaneously across the country.
The President said, “the purpose of our visit today is to show the kindness of ASUU, the kindness that ASUU has been fighting for the upliftment of the masses.
“One of them is what we are doing throughout the country. As we are here in Abagana camp, ASUU is also in Niger, Gombe and other places, giving this to those who are marginalized, especially at this time of excruciating poverty, time our people are suffering from fuel subsidy removal and a time when people at the camp have nothing to eat.
“That is why we have come with a total number of 1,246 bags of assorted food items including rice, beans, groundnut oil and other ingredients. We have also brought cartons of sanitary towels for the use of women in the camp,” he said.
The union president who appreciated the state government for its guidance and care for the IDPs called on the federal government to secure communities in the state and across the country to enable the displaced persons to return to their homes.
He said, “We are encouraging the federal government to clear the communities of every security impediment so that the IDPs can go back to their ancestral homes. Government should provide security and rebuild some of the homes destroyed by the vandals. This place is not your home and we pray that this will happen soon.,” he said.
The immediate past National Welfare Officer of ASUU, Professor Stella-Maris Okey, expressed sadness over the number and conditions of the IDPs especially pregnant women and children saying the situation calls for urgent action.
“It’s so sad, in a country that has so much money. We know what our leaders and senators are taking home. What stops the government from providing security for them to go back. Staying here, we are encouraging the people to mass reproduce.
“Looking at the number of children, pregnant young ladies in the camp, it is so unfortunate that a country referred to as the giant of Africa has this kind of serious challenges. So I am calling on the federal government to come to the aid of the suffering masses and assist us.
The Executive Secretary of State Emergency and Management Agency, James Iorpuu, represented by the Programme Manager, James Iorhuna, appreciated ASUU for their kind gesture saying despite not having salaries for over eight months, the union still managed to put monies together for the donations.
He prayed God to bless the members and make them excel in their careers especially as they continue to impart knowledge on the Nigerian children.
The Camp Manager and Woman leader, Festus Adzende and Esther Oota, respectively, also appreciated ASUU for the show of love and prayed to God to bless the members richly.
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