ASUU adamant, reveals why strike must continue

The Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) has said there is no going back on its decision to continue with its ongoing strike following Federal Government’s failure to honour the 2009 agreement.

Telescope.ng reports that ASUU president, Prof. Emmanuel Osedeke, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, May 11, in Abuja.

Osedeke said the union took the ‘difficult decision’ after exhausting all avenues available to amicably settle the matter with the federal government.

He said: “Let me give you an example, because this is where we are getting it wrong, when the airline operators said they were going to stop the flights, the Senate and House of Representatives quickly stepped in.

“This is because they are affected; they quickly rushed in and addressed the problem, why would they not resolve that of the education sector that is affecting the children of the poor and the ordinary people

“If the government is willing to resolve the issues affecting the Nigerians, then there would be no need to go on strike. The problem is the will of government to resolve issues.”

NAN recalls that ASUU on Monday extended its roll-over strike which started on Feb. 14 by another 12 weeks.

The striking lecturers’ demands include, funding of the revitalisation of public universities, Earned Academic Allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) and promotion arrears.