ASUU STRIKES AGAIN

ASUU is on strike again, i wonder if any academic year can go by without ASUU going on strike, its really disheartening as this one of the major reasons why 4year course in Nigerian public universities is prolonged to about 6 or 7 years. well reports says that; THE Senate on Monday, in Abuja, summoned the officials of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, over the on going strike embarked upon by ASUU which has paralysed activities in the government owned universities. The leadership of ASUU and the minister who are expected at the Senate today (Tuesday), are to explain the disagreement between the government and ASUU over an alleged agreement reached with ASUU.

The Chairman, Senate committee on Education, Mrs. Joy Emodi, disclosed this in on Monday in Abuja. Senator Emodi pleaded with the university teachers to have a re-think and consider the students, most especially the final year students.

She called on them to believe in the ability of the government to address the issues at hand, noting that the President, Vice-President, the minister of education and the two chairmen of the National Assembly committees of education, were themselves former teachers.

According to her “Once they agree on something, they have to sign it,” she said in disapproval of the government’s reluctance to sign the agreement.

“But apart from that, they have actually started operating some parts of the agreement like the autonomy in the appointment of vice-chancellors as the government now allows the governing councils of the universities to have a free hand.”

She added that “the crux of the matter now has to do with the condition of service. It is my opinion that every right thinking Nigerian should support very good, attractive conditions for university lecturers. It will also help to improve the quality of education in the country, and stop the brain drain that is now affecting our universities.”

Meanwhile, indications emerged in Abuja on Monday that the current indifinte strike embarked upon by ASUU may last longer as the Federal Government is prepared to offer the lecturers 40 per cent increase in salary against the over 100 per cent demanded by the union.

A Presidency Source told the Nigerian Tribune that the Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Ahmed Yayale, would soon convene a meeting with the ASUU, where the offer would be made known to them.

Please let something be done urgently, we can afford to have people staying at home for a reason not their fault.