Why ASUU Won’t Call Off Strike – ASUU President

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it is not going to suspend its ongoing strike as speculated by government, unless its demands are met.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai, after a meeting with the various university vice-chancellors in Abuja  told reporters that ASUU would call off its three-month strike on Monday, following the cooperation and assurances she got from the university dons .

But ASUU President, Prof Ukachuchwu  Awuzie  yesterday, in a telephone interview with  LEADERSHIP SUNDAY  noted that, ASUU was not a member of the Association of Vice Chancellors, and as such, could not call off the action until government implemented its agreements with ASUU. He stressed that the lecturers’ body, would not abide by the Association’s call to end the strike.

“It’s all government’s propaganda! ASUU won’t call off its strike so long as government shies away from the issue of effective funding of the universities”, Awuzie said.

The union leader who however expressed the union’s appreciation to the Senate for its efforts, especially in passing the bill for the extension of the retirement age of lectures from 65 to 70, but which is awaiting the president’s assent to become a law, said, “The year of retirement is just one of our demands, the funding is the cardinal,” he stressed.

On a positive note, Awuzie said, “Mr. President has scheduled a meeting with ASUU on Monday, If government accepts to implement our demand, that is when we will think of calling off the strike.

“Even at that, the National Executive Committee of ASUU will have to meet and have series of meetings to agree on when to call off the strike.

“However, with the intervention of Mr. President, I believe the solution will come faster than expected”  Awuzie  stated .

Source; LEADERSHIP