The National Executive Committee of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will commence a two-day meeting at the University of Lagos, Akoka, today, to finalise the union’s decision on an impending strike.
According to reports from PUNCH, a final decision on the looming strike will be reached this weekend as ASUU NEC meets from February 12 (today) and February 13, at UNILAG.
One ASUU NEC official told The Punch that the decision on strike would be put to voting and all the members present would vote either for or against it.
In his words: “The president of our union is not the one to decide on the strike. Also, none of the officers is expected to unilaterally decide on it. The issues at stake are to be tabled and debated at the meeting.
“Then, all the NEC members will vote either for or against the strike. Whatever we decide on Sunday would form the next line of action.”
Asked if there are enough grounds for the lecturers to go on strike, the source answered in the affirmative.
“Yes, we have even started the strike earlier than now. But as parents, we have been waiting for the government to yield the ground and fulfil the agreements it voluntarily entered with us,” the source added.
The Punch further revealed that efforts to reach Adamu (Minister of Education) proved abortive as he neither picked calls nor replied to a text message sent to his phone number.”
But stated that Nwajiuba (Minister of State for Education) declined to comment on the union’s meeting, where the ultimate decision on the impending strike would be taken.
Meanwhile, Ngige has promised to step into the dispute between the Federal Government and ASUU if the Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission fail to resolve the issue.
According to PUNCH, The minister stated on Friday that his ministry could only perform a reconciliatory role as it is not the employer of the lecturers.
He said, “The Ministry of Education is their employer and we have handed over the necessary tools to them. The major issue with ASUU now is the deployment of UTAS which is under the purview of NITDA which is under the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy. The NUC also has its own role to play.
“My role is to play a reconciliatory officer. If their employers and the NUC fail to reconcile them, then I step in as the reconciliatory officer. It’s not more than that. But I know their employers are finding ways to resolve these issues.”
READ ALSO:Strike: “We Are Tired Of Your Promises, We Want To See Actions,” – ASUU Tells Buhari
Students back ASUU indefinite strike
The ASUU Chairman, Moddibo Adama University, Yola, El-Maude Gambo, said the union met with the students’ union leaders of the institution on Wednesday on the union’s frustrations.
He said, “As a union, we are poised to fight on until the government does the needful. We are proud to be the last union standing against the tyranny and impunity of power display in Nigeria. Ours is a union of intellectuals who believe that quality education is a right of every Nigerian.”
The President of the Student Union Government of MOU, Jerry Dickson, said the union was in support of ASUU’s planned strike.
He added that the students’ support for ASUU “is total and unflinching” so long as its agitations would help to tackle the challenges confronting the university system.
He said students were opposed to high cost of the university education that puts the children of the poor at a disadvantage.
He said, “We are of the opinion that if really ASUU means what they are saying about embarking on strike to address the rot in the university system, then we don’t mind if the strike will last 10 years. Example is Ghana, our West African neighbour, who went on a long strike that last a few years to address the issues in that country’s university educational system. If the Ghanaians did that, why can’t we do that here also?”
READ ALSO: “You Should Beg FG To Fulfill The Agreements Between Us” – ASUU tells Nigerian Students
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