ASUU Denies Plan to Call Off Strike

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has dismissed claim by the Minister of Education, Professor Rakayat Rufai, that the union will call off its ongoing strike Monday.

ASUU chairman in the University of Ibadan, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye said the strike was still on and total until the federal government substantially implemented the agreement reached with the union in 2009.

Ajiboye said the National Assembly had played its role with the passage of the 70 year retirement age for academics in the Professorial cadre.

He said, “the Union is aware of the passage of the 70 years retirement age by the two houses of the National Assembly. However, we are quick to point out that a bill becomes a law only when it is accented to by the President. Our Union is still awaiting the law.”

“That apart from the retirement age, other issues outstanding include: University autonomy (presently Governing Councils of all Federal universities have been dissolved), Funding of Universities – this is of very serious concern to our Union due to the level of degradation in those Universities, payment of earned allowances and other welfare matters to our members.

Government needs to show seriousness with regards to the above outstanding issues.”
The strike embarked upon on Monday December 5th, 2011, by the Union to force the FGN to fully implement the agreement it freely entered into with our Union in September 2009, he noted, is still on.

“There is no retreat, no surrender, until the FGN do the needful with regards to the implementation of that agreement. That ASUU will be willing to call off its strike immediately Government shows signs of seriousness in the implementation of the 2009 agreement.”

“ The general public, especially parents and guardians and indeed all Nigerians are hereby called upon to impress it on the government to meet the demands of ASUU as it is enshrined in the 2009 agreement.