UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO SMILE SOON
ASUU and FG enter negotiations
NANS urges for resolutions
Damilola Towobola
Speculations that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) would call off its strike was dashed lastweek as the aggrevied Union continued talks with the Federal Government inorder “to iron out a few outstanding issues”. The strike embarked upon on Monday December 5th, 2011, by the Union was aimed at forcing the FGN to fully implement the agreement it freely entered into with our Union in September 2009.
ASUU as stated that there is no retreat, no surrender, until the FGN do the needful with regards to the implementation of that agreement. ASUU won’t call off its strike so long as government shies away from the issue of effective funding of the universities. “We are talking about one thing: the good of the education sector in Nigeria. There are no adversaries in this matter. There are no winners. There are no losers. That is why we should work together.”
The state of facilities and equipments in our universities calls for urgent attention from the government. A student who spoke with Insider stated that the equipments in the Engineering departments of his university are an eyesore, some aren’t working yet we make use of them in examinations. He further engaged ASUU not to compromise standard but see to changes and effectiveness in the educational sector.
ASUU also commended the National Assembly for its role in the passage of the 70 year retirement age for academics in the Professorial cadre.
ASUU stated that “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 Minister of Education Professor Ruqqayyatu also debunked reports that she had promised an end to the strike on Monday saying she was misquoted. “What I said is that it is our hope and desire that based on what we were doing so far, the strike would be called off. But if it doesn’t, I didn’t say that it will. I am not ASUU; I am not representing ASUU in any way.”
National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has also urged the Federal Government to find lasting solution to the demands of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and its sister unions.
National President of NANS, Adakole Ochai also appealed to ASUU to always consider the effects of their action on Nigerian students.
He said: “We wish to appeal to ASUU to consider the impending doom on the successor-generation and make sacrifice where necessary to avail the Nigerian students the opportunity of getting back to school within the shortest possible time.
“We are aware that this strike action is to emancipate the academic community, but desired change is a process”
“We appeal to the Federal Government to put into consideration our tertiary institutions and the national secretariat of NANS, in the distribution provided by the Federal Government to cushion the effect of the pressure.”
Meanwhile the President of Asuu, Awuzie stated that the issue will be resolved very soon. He expressed satisfaction over the level of Federal Government’s commitment to the contending issues saying that, “If we fought there, you won’t see us smiling. All of us are patriots. We are talking about one thing: the good of the education sector in Nigeria. There are no adversaries in this matter. There are no winners. There are no losers. That is why we should work together.”
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