ASUU strike: We cannot be intimidated – 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)