ASUU Gives Condition To End Strike

Fagge-Isa

President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr. Nasir Issa Fagge, yesterday, gave conditions for the suspension of the six month old strike. Fagge who spoke on Channels Television, yesterday morning, said once government opens the bank account with N200 billion, requested by the union, the strike would be suspended.

“Once that is done, and the committee that is supposed to disburse the funds starts working, our members will have no reason not to suspend the strike action.

He asked: “Why won’t government make available this money so that we know the money is there and the universities commence drawing from this money to address the problem of decay in infrastructure, teaching and research facilities? When that is done, our members will suspend the strike.”

The ASUU president also dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the union had been split.

On suggestions in some government quarters that ASUU was being influenced by opposition parties, Dr. Fagge said “ASUU is a union of cerebral intellectuals”. He said the union is not influenced by religion, or ethnicity, saying however that members of the union are free to associate with any political party of their choice.

Meanwhile, the University of Calabar has announced that the university resumes today for academic activities and directed all students who did not finish their registration to do so immediately.

But Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities, Unical chapter, Dr. James Ekprinya has warned parents that the university is still on strike and that any one that releases his ward is doing that at his own peril.

In a press release by the Deputy Registrar, Academic division, Mr. Mike Monity, the university yesterday stated that, “Normal Academic/Allied activities will resume tomorrow, the December 4, 2013 at the University of Calabar.

Monity in a release said the resumption was the decision reached at an emergency meeting of senate held at the senate chambers of the Institution.

It further stated that “the decision is in compliance with the directive issued by the Minister of Education” and that details of the revised university calendar would be disclosed in due course.

It also advised students with pending activities like second semester registration, Final year and Post Graduate research projects to start immediately as the school works out time table for lectures.

The ASUU chairman, Dr. Ekpirinya said that the congress rose from its congress with “a strong resolve to continue the strike until the agreements are implemented to the letter.

“We did not close school, we will not re-open it. We warn parents that any one who decides to send his or her ward to school is doing so at his or her peril.”

In a similar move, University of Benin chapter of ASUU, yesterday, vowed to continue the current strike action and admonished President Goodluck Jonathan to embrace dialogue with the union rather than threats.

Meanwhile, no sign of resumption of academic activities at the university yesterday, despite the announcement by the university authorities Monday, calling on students and academic staff to resume duties.

Addressing journalists yesterday, chairman of the UNIBEN Chapter of the ASUU, Dr Anthony Monye-Emina who was recently involved in the accident that led to the death of Professor Iyayi, advised parents to inform their children to stay at home, insisting that the strike action will not be called off until the Federal Government implements the agreements.

According to him: “We want to advise parents not to send their children back to campus in the event of any announcement of resumption of classes by the university administration in line with the supervisory Minister’s directive. The union has not called off the strike. The President should continue on the path of honour to dialogue with the union as this is the only way to find an immediate and lasting solution to the crisis in the university system.”

The University of Agriculture Abeokuta chapter of ASUU has vowed not to be cowed by the sack threat by the Federal Government, warning its members against signing the register by the University.

Addressing newsmen, yesterday, at the COPLANT auditorium of the University, the chairperson for ASUU -UNAAB, Dr. Biodun Badmus said the Union would not resume as directed by the Federal Government.

Badmus who was flanked by some past leaders of the union in the university advised the Federal Government to implement the agreement made with the Union for the sake of the students in the country.

Speaking on the plans by the union against any member that signs the register, Dr. Badmus said that the union would not hesitate to discipline any member of the Union who signs back to work register.

He said “ Of course, even in the days of Jesus Christ there are Judases, it is envisaged and the union has its practices and code of conduct and there are laid down procedures to thrash out such areas should anybody sign back to work”.

While proffering solution to the problem, the Union leader said “the ball is in the court of the Federal Government, ASUU has not closed its doors to dialogue. We appeal to the Federal Government to do what is needful. “If any meeting should be called, the National officers of ASUU are ready to meet the government to resolve the issue on ground”.

16 COMMENTS

  1. We the student are in full support of the ASSU on their course to improve the standard of our University. As a student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka I want to personally encourage the lecturers and advice the FG to go back to dialogue and comply to the demands of the striking lecturers for the interest of Nigeria. I want to also inform my fellow student that the children of most of the members of th FG are schooling abroad because the know that our Universities lack what it take to produce world class graduate so why should they give what it takes to upgrade ur Universities afterall it does not affect them. They rather share the money. So don’t listen to them. Let join hands with ASUU to improve our institution for our sake and the sake of our unborn children.

  2. My opinion is simple:resolution always leads to restoration.Hence,to restore and refurbish our educational system,there’s the need for both parties to come to terms with each other for the benefit of all.

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  4. AN OPEN LETTER TO MR PRESIDENT
    In view of the ASUU demand and any other obligation laid down before you mr president partaining Education walfare in the country sir,permit me to re-reminded you that is the right path to be taken because a proverbs said “if knowledge is expenses try ignorant”means you like your country citizen end of Hawken on the road and their resources are been under your custody,they trusted and handover this resource for you to utilised it for them and benefit from you power instructed in you by them which you are refusing them the mandate.
    Mr president,the money required by the ASUU to revitalization of country Universities is nothing for the Education of Nigeria to be spend on,so I wish mr president you will sit down and think about what ASUU demanded is necessary for Educational carreer in your Motherland Nigerian in order to boost out the level of country Education,as well as its citizen.
    So mr president permit me to advice you on your mandate as leader of this country that no point of argument herein about the sum requested by ASUU,if you are dreaming that your country should go forward educationally and motivate your citizen as good political as well as democratic leader who is ambition to move the country forward and soliciting from you that to realesed 200m requested by ASUU.So that to put the fullstoop and end this debate that taken place anyhow.As well as political crisis that happen here and ther which is not proper in this politcal era and no good record may be kept if this going abnormal in your leadership.
    I wish words is enough for a Wise and adopt the habbit of hear and change for the good advice

  5. AN OPEN LETTER TO MR PRESIDENT
    In view of the ASUU demand and any other obligation laid down before you mr president partaining Education walfare in the country sir,permit me to re-reminded you that is the right path to be taken because a proverbs said “if knowledge is expenses try ignorant”means you like your country citizen end of Hawken on the road and their resources are been under your custody,they trusted and handover this resource for you to utilised it for them and benefit from you power instructed in you by them which you are refusing them the mandate.
    Mr president,the money required by the ASUU to revitalization of country Universities is nothing for the Education of Nigeria to be spend on,so I wish mr president you will sit down and think about what ASUU demanded is necessary for Educational carreer in your Motherland Nigerian in order to boost out the level of country Education,as well as its citizen.
    So mr president permit me to advice you on your mandate as leader of this country that no point of argument herein about the sum requested by ASUU,if you are dreaming that your country should go forward educationally and motivate your citizen as good political as well as democratic leader who is ambition to move the country forward and soliciting from you that to realesed 200m requested by ASUU.So that to put the fullstoop and end this debate that taken place anyhow.As well as political crisis that happen here and there which is not proper in this politcal era and no good record may be kept if this going abnormal in your leadership.
    I wish words is enough for a Wise and adopt the habbit of hear and change for the good advice

  6. Samuel and Yahaya, i like what you both said. I wish that Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan will hear us and help our universities,Polytechnics and Monotechnics. Please HELP THIS COUNTRY AND STOP ENRICHING OTHER COUNTRIES.

  7. Well, as 4 me, dis is getin out of hand! Can u jst imagine students of dis great country in various kinfs of situations? some are labourers jst fund thier education career while some are jst bein sponsored. All I want both Mr President & ASUU to knw is that the battlefield of two elephants will never grow grasses again. No matter hw long this strike takes, it wnt affect either of the two parties in question, instead it lays bad effect on the students. I mean this stike will neither reduces the tenure of Mr president nor will it reduce the salary of the lecturers bt it will increase the time schedule of students especially those who are already behind schedule due to thier age. I am appealing to both parties, dont say that your children are not affected, think of the poor children in this country whose parents are forcing themselves with the point dat where they unable to reach due to thier illiteracy, their children must be able to get there. EJOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO!

  8. Please people should know that the only way ASUU can confirm that the account is open and has the required amount is by the FG to formally communicate it to ASUU. I ‘m sure if this is done ASUU will call off the strike.