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‘We’re Not Strike Mongers,’ ASUU Tells FG

The Nigeria’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Monday restated its demand to the federal government, saying “what we need from government is sincerity.”

The universities union, which reiterated its agitations through it verified Facebook handle, said “if government is sincere with us and we come to a satisfactory understanding, we are not strike mongers; we don’t enjoy being on strike either.

“We only use it as a last resort, when government pushes us to strike. It is because successive governments do not listen to persuasive argument and do not honour agreements. That is why we always find ourselves embarking on strike.”

Commenting, a Facebook user, Abu-Abdullahi El-farooq, said “it is factual that ASUU has by commission or omission assumed the role of a reformer group that has been battling to revive the systematic decay in our Universities through its agitations for academic freedom, University Autonomy, revitalization of universities and adequate funding of Universities among other demands of the Union.

“There is no doubt these agitations or demands of ASUU are beyond the focus of many trade unions in Nigeria. So ASUU is playing the responsibility of both trade union and a reformer group in our Universities.

“However, to our dismay, a glaring limitation of ASUU has been its failure to coopt other stakeholders in the University System such as Honourable Minister of Education, Committee of Pro-Chancellors, Committee of VCs, NUC, National Assembly, parents, students, media, NGOs, donor organizations, etc to form a National Dialogue Forum that will be making an in-depth intensive deliberation with the view of reaching resolutions on what ever problem that affects Universities.

“This Forum can be formed to be meeting quarterly per annum or anytime that need arises. Whatever resolution(s) reached the Honourable Minister of Education who shall chair the Forum should submit it to Mr. President for implementation.

“This dialogue process will be far better than strikes that have recently become an annual event where the ASUU demands have been repetitive and FGN keeps deaf ears.

About Babajide Iletogun

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