No plan to call off strike until... - ASUU •UNILORIN VC calls for truce

ACADEMIC Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it has no plan to call of its current strike until the Federal Government implements in full, the agreement it entered into with the union in 2009.

Addressing the press in Anambra State, on Tuesday, the Nsukka zonal coordinator of the union, Dr Chidi Osuagwu, said the rumour doing the round that ASUU was planning to call off its strike this week was not correct.

“The union feels embarrassed by the rumours doing the round that the ongoing strike will be called off on Thursday (tomorrow). This is unacceptable to the union and its members. In the light of these, we wish to state that unless the 2009 ASUU/FG agreement is fully implemented, the strike will continue,” he said.

The ASUU zonal coordinator called on Nigerians to impress it on the government to implement the agreement for better Nigerian university education system.

He said the agreement was designed to ensure better university system in the country, adding that “it is important to inform the public that the current strike by ASUU is not meant to make any fresh demands on the government.”

According to him, the demands of ASUU, which resulted in the current strike, included the funding requirement for revitalisation of the Nigeria universities; federal assistance to state universities; progression increase of annual budgetary allocation to education to a minimum of 26 per cent, as recommended by United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO); academic allowances; setting up of research and development units by companies operating in Nigeria and teaching and research equipment provision to laboratories and classrooms.

He condemned what he described as the unbecoming attitude of the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, whom he alleged had become a clog in the wheel of university education and development in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali, has called on members of ASUU to return to negotiation table with government.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State, after the break of Ramadan fasting on Monday, the vice chancellor urged the two parties in the dispute to reach compromise, in the interest of the students.

“Where two parties are fighting, nobody will be 100 per cent right. I just want to urge the two parties to understand each other and come to conclusion, so that students can continue their study in peace,” he said.

Source- Tribune.