Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the weekend embarked on mass mobilisation of members not to comply with the federal government December 4 ultimatum to resume lectures.
Members of the union were directed not to sign any register that may be opened by their Vice Chancellors.
The leadership of the union on Friday before departing from Abuja following the federal government riot act instructing them to return to work or be sacked directed all branches chairmen to device means of mobilising their members not to fall for the threats of the federal government.
It described the federal government’s threat as “empty”, pending the next National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Union slated for Minna.
An official of the union who was in the Abuja meeting told our Correspondent that Chairmen were also advised not to hold public congresses in order to avoid any face off with armed military men government deployed to all institutions for the implementation of the December 4 deadline of re-opening.
Our source also said that the date for the NEC meeting fixed for Minna, Niger State capital may not be made public but that the council may reconvene by the weekend after chairmen of branches would have assessed the implementation of the deadline given for resumption.
“Chairmen of all branches are to devise means of mobilising their members not to be intimidated into signing any register or returning to back to classroom. We also resolve not to hold any open congress now that our campuses are militarised but we will ensure that our people are adequately informed.
“Same goes for the next NEC meeting. We resolved not to make public the date but we want all branches to monitor and ensure non-compliant with the federal government December 4 deadline before the council meeting slated for Minna, Niger State,” our source disclosed.
To this end the Union have started using the short message service (sms) and other social media platforms to reach out and to mobilise members not to succumb to federal government threat which the union described as “empty”, insisting that the strike continues.
One of the messages sent to mobilise members stated thus “Dear members, FG decision to threaten us with sack confirms our suspicion that FG may not be honest and can not be trusted. Don’t sucumb (sic) to this empty threat. The strike continues. We shall triumph again. Please, DO NOT SIGN ANY REGISTER. ALUTA CONTINUA- CHAIRPERSON”.
Another message reads, “Dear Congress member, I’m appealing we should stay calm and remain resolute. There is nothing wrong in asking govt to do what it says it will do immediately. ASUU is not making any new demands as the Minister is propagating Govt 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!!! UNITED WE BARGAIN DIVIDED WE BEG!!! ALUTA CONTINUA”.
Another Professor at the Federal University of Technology Minna who spoke in confidence expressed shock at the government ultimatum. “One is shocked by the deadline. If they sack all of us, government will go to Kasua Gwari to pack lecturers or pick Professors on the streets. It is a pity, our leaders are reckless.
“We are not moved by the ultimatum. We are waiting to see how they (govt) intend to wriggle itself out of the self inflicted problem. Do they know how the system runs. The era of intimidation is gone ,” the university don stated.
Meanwhile University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and Enugu State University of Science and Technology have directed students to resume today. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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BE COURAGEOUS ASUU, THE FIGHT CONTINUES! KUDOS
ReplyDeleteAsuu keeps saying that no fresh demand was made, is payment of 4months salary arrears part of the 2009 agreement? So why include it as a condition for calling off the strike. The 'no work no pay' policy must be implemented. I totally support the federal government, ASUU hv bitten more than they can chew. Imagine it took them almost a month to conduct the NEC meeting after meeting with the president of the federation, although they lost a member but a week is enough to mourn.
ReplyDeleteFor many years now, I have refused to join the critics of President Jonathan and have abhorred the adjectives people use to describe him and his Government, but now my mind keeps asking whether the critics were right? Does this Government have able hands as advisers? One of the biggest mistakes a democratic Government can make is to give even the slightest impression that it militarily-bent or autocratic. Nyeson Wike has damaged this Government beyond imagination. A more sane presidency would have seen that Nigeria is not chaotic Rivers state and would have kept such a character at an arm's length.
ReplyDeleteU no get work i dont thnk u are a student? U must be a farmer or cattle rearer
ReplyDeleteWell said my Frnd....dat Anon 2:39am na tea seller.
DeleteASUU go back to work.Enough is enough
DeleteThe Students are not even willing to return to school ds festive period. Allow them, the road will b hot for them.
ReplyDeleteIts rather unfortunate, how on earth @ this era of democracy would someone like Wike order university Dons to resume rather than address the issues.Jonathan said it wasn't FG directive, only for Okupe to go on air to justify FG's ultimatum to ASUU who do we even believe
ReplyDeleteThere is already an Agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU. The 2009 Agreement is the starting point and must be honoured by President Jonathan. As I write, that agreement of 2009 is even obsolete and has to be reviewed upwards to give our universities the pride of place it truly deserves. Anything short of accepting and implementing that agreement is just a temporary resolution. At the appointed time, the strike will resume, standard of education will continue to plummet and our best brains will continue to leave the country in droves.
ReplyDeleteThe further consequence is that universities will continue to "graduate" unemployable graduates that will end up as political thugs who will be willing tools to be used to subvert democracy by Politicians. These willing tools will eventually become our future politicians/leaders and they will never understand what it means to get the education sector working. That is the kind of system that produces the likes of Neyson Wike!
@Anonymous 9.51am, you are absolutely right. but what i fear is that even when the government uphold their end of the bargain, the so called money will end up inside the pockets of individual persons from the top of the hierarchy. before it gets to the bottom i am sure there will be nothing left to refurbish the universities.
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