ASUU STRIKE UPDATE DEC 2013

During the burial of former Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President Festus Iyayi, members of the ASUU booed Rev. Fr. Andrew Obiyan who suggested that the months-long strike be called off.

“Do not give the federal government the privilege of satisfaction of fighting and defeating you. I encourage you to surrender first in this fight. You have made your point eloquently and clear enough,” he said, which was met by jeers, according to the Daily Post.

“Sincere and intelligent Nigerians will consider what you have done and will forever appreciate you for it. Your surrender at this time as a tool of power is the sign of strength, it’s not a sign of weakness,” Obiyan said, adding: “We may not trust the federal government owing to their antecedents, but I humbly request you to please trust them now.”

ASUU President Dr. Nasri Fagge said that the boos were simply what the crowd thought of ending the five-month-long strike.

Fagge said, “We were told here at this gathering that there were some fundamental issues that bother the mind of our late comrade, as to the future of the struggle. For me, it is left for us to rally round those ideals and advance his legacies. You saw the reaction of the crowd to what was said about suspending the struggle, and that to me said it all.”

The incident comes as Olabisi Onabanjo University said it would resume classes on Dec. 9, which was required by the Nigerian Federal Government, reported the Osun Defender.

The university called on students to complete their registrations.

The ASUU strike started in July after leaders of the union said the government failed to implement a deal to improve the welfare of teachers and upgrade state-run facilities, leaving hundreds of thousands of Nigerian students in limbo.

Bobboi Kaigama, the president of the Trade Union Congress, told the New Mail this week that the strike will be called off before the Dec. 9 deadline.

“We will mediate and call back both parties to the negotiation table,” he said, reported the New Mail. “The good thing is that they are both committed to ending the strike.”

He said the National Labor Congress is also participating in the negotiations between the government and the ASUU.

“Myself and my colleague from the NLC will ensure that this issue is quickly resolved. The most important thing is that both parties want a quick end to the strike. What is happening right now is as a result of a break in communication,” he said.

But Fagge said several days ago that the government has not deposited N200 billion in a bank account like what was requested.

“Why won’t government make available this money so that we know the money is there and the universities commence drawing from this money to address the problem of decay in infrastructure, teaching and research facilities? When that is done, our members will suspend the strike,” he said.

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