School Re-opening: Strike Continues, ASUU Insists

The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Friday noted that it has not call off the ongoing strike despite the directive by the Federal Government for Universities to resume.

The Chairman of the University of Ibadan Chapter, Professor Ayo Akinwole, stated that the union’s ongoing strike would continue.

Speaking further on Why the strike is necessary,  Akinwale accused the Federal Government of deducting check off dues on behalf of the union and refusing to remit same to the union between February and June 2020.

He also alerted there is an evil conspiracy among the ruling elite to wipe out public university education which provides education to over 90 % of students to elevate private universities, which he alleged they own with their collaborators.

The union has been on strike for over six months to “draw attention of government to the implications of criminal negligence of not funding public universities in the light of rising insecurity and other mounting social problems.”

According to Akinwole, the plan by the government to use salary stoppage to punish varsity lecturers for being concerned with the parlous state of affairs in the nations’ tertiary education has failed as members are resolved to ensure that government becomes responsive and responsible.

He maintained while the union is ready to discuss outstanding issues on the implementation of the February 2019 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between the FG and ASUU as well as other conditions of service with government, the FG has not been forthcoming but has rather resorted to embarking on propaganda against the union.