Interview with Comrade Folashade Adepoju

 

SV: Good Day Comrade Folasade Adepoju

Thank You

SV: Can we meet you?

My name is Comrade Folasade Adepoju

SV: How long have you been in the union?

I started my Aluta journey as a student of Bayero University, Kano in the mid-90s till I graduated in early 2002 and am presently the branch chairperson of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institute (ASURI).

SV: What are the things that give you concern?

The things that give me concern are so many, the most traumatic of it all is the sorry state of Nigeria currently. Corruption, police brutality, insecurity, unemployment, high crime rate, ritual killings, misinformation/ fake news, gender-based violence, poverty, Yahoo Yahoo, yahoo+, the list is endless.

SV: It’s Five months now that JORAISU has been on strike do you think the Federal Government is serious about meeting the demands of JORAISU?

It’s been 5 months since the JORAISU strike. Unfortunately, we have a government that cares less about its people. The Federal Government’s approach to the strike has been one of " I don’t care" It is only in Nigeria that government institutions (Research agencies) will be under locks and keys, yet the government will look away. I don’t think Government is ready to do anything tangible as regards this strike. This is a Government that cannot be trusted with anything. It is a government of lies, lies and deceit.

SV: As a branch leader of ASURI do you think the research sector is well-funded in Nigeria?

As a branch leader of ASURI in my organisation ( National Library of Nigeria) and an affiliate of other Research centres in Nigeria, I can tell you that in the area of funding for the research sector, Government has failed woefully. Comrade, it is a shame that under the COVID-19 pandemic, most Research centres were locked because they have nothing to fight the scourge. There are Research centres in Nigeria today with dilapidated laboratories, some without a library. Take a look at the National Library of Nigeria, the giant memory of the Nation, the organisation responsible for preserving all intellectual output of the Nation is housed in a rented apartment, its headquarters building, abandoned from the government to the government. How do you want Nigeria to progress when research centres that should drive Nigeria’s development and sharpen the innovative thinking of our youth are left derelict with unmotivated staff around?

SV: With the present rate of inflation, do you agree that is time for Labour leaders to fight for N100,000 minimum wage?

For Minimum wage, I will propose 200k per month as Minimum wage. The inflation has eaten deep into the salary of Nigerian workers, that 5 litres of Groundnut oil that used to cost 2000 are now 7000, almost everything has doubled/tripled its price. Increasing the Minimum wage to 200,000 wouldn’t be a bad idea at this time.

SV: As the 2023 general elections are on the way, what advice do you want to give Nigerian workers?

As the 2023 general election is on the way, my advice to Nigerian workers is:

1. Get your PVC

2. Come out to vote because your votes count.

3. Stay and ensure your vote is counted.

4. Do not vote along religious/tribal lines.

5. Educate others about the dangers of voting amiss.