ASUU STRIKE: "Risky Resumption"; Union Tells Parents not to endanger the lives of their children

The Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) has advised parents not to endanger the lives of their children and wards by allowing them to resume in various universities across the country.
ASUU also advised members not to sign the attendance registers in their institutions and lambasted the government for lack of consistency in its statements on  the ongoing strike.
The union warned that academic activities would not commence until the Federal Government perfected the resolutions reached with the union.
Dr Segun Ajiboye, Chairman of University of Ibadan chapter, said “Don’t risk the lives of your children, keep them at home because ASUU will not teach. Soldiers and the police deployed by the Federal Government will not teach.
"Wike can come and teach in the universities. It is a huge joke to sack lecturers. Our strike must not be in vain. Our students must see the results.

“It is funny. We thought we are in a democracy. I assure Nigerians that we know what the law says about the strike. Our job is statue backed. We are not threatened. We do not trust the government. The record of the government is clear. This government is dishonouring agreements. Our members are resolved to pursue this to a logical conclusion.”

The union also described as laughable the President Goodluck Jonathan's denial of the ultimatum issued to them. The union vowed to ensure the rewards of the strike were seen, saying if they could withstand the Babaginda government then the Goodluck Jonathan government was no match for them.

He stated, “Dear members, stay calm and remain resolute. There is nothing wrong in asking government to do what it says it will do immediately. ASUU is not making any new demands as the supervising minister is propagating. Government is only repeating a ‘one act play’ scripted by the IBB dictatorship in early 90s. It didn’t work then, and, it won’t work now. All branches are intact. We cannot be intimidated," he said.

source: naijnews

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Today On Asuu: We cannot be intimidated, not in the Military Era – Union

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday said that it would not be intimidated by the Federal Government’s directive to resume work on or before Dec. 4 without resolving the industrial dispute.
Mr Clement Chup, the Chairman of ASUU, the University of Abuja chapter, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that there was nothing like re-opening the universities or calling off the strike.
The Federal Government had on Thursday directed all Vice-Chancellors of the federal universities that were on strike to immediately re-open the universities for academic and allied activities.
The Federal Government also directed the universities’ Pro-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors to ensure that lecturers who resumed for work were provided with the enabling environment for academic and allied activities.
The government, however, warned that any lecturer who failed to resume on or before Dec. 4, automatically ceased to be a member of staff of the institution.
It also directed the Vice-Chancellors directed to advertise vacancies (internal and external) in their institutions.
Some parents and students, who spoke with the NAN in Abuja, expressed mixed feelings concerning the Federal Government’s directive.
Mr Ekpontas Uwanna, a parent, said that it was improper for the Federal Government to order ASUU to call off its strike in such an abrupt manner, without reaching an agreement with the union.
“This is a civilised country and I think people have been trying to sympathise with the government over ASUU strike.
“’But with such pronouncement, I do not think that it is the right way that the Federal Government should handle this matter,’’ he added.
Another parent, Mrs Joy Amadi, said that it was a shame that the state of affairs of the country’s tertiary education sector was being handled in such a manner.
“We are not in the military era; this is democracy and any agreement entered into by the Federal Government, be it with anybody or association, must be kept.
“Issuing threat is not the option but with mutual understanding of both parties and patience, there will be peace and harmony in the sector,’’ she said.
Mr Dele Oluwadayo, also a parent, said that the strike had dragged on for too long, adding that parents and students were fed up with the industrial action.
“I think that the Federal Government and the Pro-Chancellors are doing the right thing by calling for the re-opening of the universities.
“But I want to say that the Federal government should not be hard on the lecturers.
“I think ASUU is fighting for a good cause but they should also be considerate,’’ he said.
However, a student, Mohammed Aliyu, urged ASUU to abide by the Federal Government’s directive.
“It is better for ASUU to work with the Federal Government’s terms and reference; we are tired of the strike,’’ he said.
Another student, Priscilla Ekoma, said that the Federal Government’s directive was not in order.
“Although it is not that I am happy that we are on strike, but it is very, very wrong for the Federal Government to order ASUU to resume work just like that.
“ASUU is making a case for all the universities in the country and an agreement should be reached, the crisis cannot be resolved via intimidation or threat,’’ Ekoma said.
NAN reports that all efforts to get the reaction of the ASUU National President, Dr Nasir Fagge, as at the time of filing this report proved abortive, as he did not pick the reporter’s calls. (NAN)

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