Leye Adewumi
23 June 2009
Akure — The National Executive Council (NEC) of Academic Staff Union of the Universities (ASUU) has declared a total and indefinite strike in all state and federal universities in the country.
Addressing a news conference in Akure, the ASUU National President, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie and his deputy, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge, ex-President, Dr. Abdullahi Sule- Kano and other members of the National Executive Council said the industrial action became imperative following the continued refusal of the Federal Government to sign the pact it reached with the union two years ago.
The goal of the agreement, the president said, was to reposition Nigerian universities for better funding, better conditions of service, university autonomy and academic freedom so that the universities could compete favourably with their counterparts in other parts of the world.
Awuzie said, the agreement to this effect has been reached between ASUU and the Gamaliel Onosode- led negotiating team since December 2008 but the government did not treat ASUU's patience and restraint with sincerity.
Awuzie said, "In March, we were first told that the agreement would be signed before the end of April. At the end of April, were told it would be signed on May 7th.
On May 7th, we were told the Permanent Secretary was not in the country (The Permanent Secretary has no role in signing or implementing of an agreement).
"On May 10th, we got a text message inviting ASUU for the signing of the agreement on Tuesday May 12th, 2009 at the National Universities Commission.
Although we considered this unusual mode of invitation, we decided to go.
"There was no programme, no indication of the exact venue at the NUC. We were only told that there would be communication in the morning when the agreement would be signed. Despite our reservations, we reported at the venue. The event turned to be a classic case of deception."
The ASUU National President said they had no option but to embark on the strike because the situation had remained unchanged since the end of the two-week warning strike on May 31, adding that the union kept hearing actions that were entirely foreign to the collective bargaining process.
The union appealed to the public , parents, students, patriotic groups and individuals to implore the government to sign and implement the agreement reached by the negotiating teams, stressing that the ultimate consequence of not doing so should be blamed on the government and not ASUU.
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You are some how correct but i think what we the students will do is emback on our own strike: we'll call it SUG strick (student union government) with objectives: (1) No more strick in universities. (2) Government of Cross River State must start paying BUSSERY. If they dont comply within the next 48 hours we will also go for an indefinate strik.
I cant say ASUU shouldn't go on strike but is there no other way of doing this? We the students are the one going to loose cos ones the strike is over, lectures will go faster than normal and u know wat is at stake.