The Academic Staff Union of Universities has dismissed resumption notices issued by some universities amid its strike action.
This was after an announcement by Public Relations Officer of Imo State University, Owerri, Ralph Njoku, that the institution had pulled out of the ongoing strike
Njoku had said, “Yes. It is true. We have asked students to resume immediately. Lectures start on Tuesday. We are doing this in the best interest of our students and staff. We are not only pulling out of the ASUU strike but also asking everyone to return to school.”
Speaking to Punch, Vice President of ASUU and its former branch chairman at the University of Jos, Dr. Chris Piwuna, said the union’s strike remains unshakeable
He said, “I don’t know why these people will never learn their lesson. Is the PRO of the University a member of our union? Does he have the mandate to speak for our members? Did we consult with him or his VC (Vice Chancellor) before we embarked on the action? They are incurable interlopers.
“Let us hear from our branch chairperson. Let them not waste the time of our students and parents.
“They said the same thing about Gombe State University, Yobe State University, Kaduna State University, and the rest. Those institutions are still under lock and key. Our strike is unshakeable.
“Our members remain resilient and single-minded about our overall goal to rescue our public Universities from the clutches of the neo-liberal, neo-colonialist.”
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, staged a protest in Lagos against the strike action which had kept students away from universities.
This led to the blockage of the road leading to the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos.
According to a statement signed by Ojo Raymond Olumide, Chairman, NANS National Task Force on #EndASUUStrikeNow, NANS ahs vowed to resist the continuation of the strike.
He said, “There is no gainsaying the fact that this government has failed in all ramification. And, if we are to be truthful with ourselves, this administration should have been sacked a long time ago. This is why we are passing a vote of no confidence in this administration.
“This administration willingly entered into a social contract with the Nigerian people which they have failed to meet. The failure of the Federal Government to fulfil an agreement willingly entered into with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is what is at play today which has led to the truncation of academic activities on our University campuses.
“We recall that this Federal Government commenced this dangerous trend from public primary schools across the country after which they drifted to secondary schools. This, we believe is a calculated attempt to murder education and take it out of the reach of the poor. We find this most embarrassing. Right now, the Federal Government is at the conclusive end of what they begun long ago by murdering public tertiary education in the country.
“This, as Nigerian students, we have vowed to resist and we shall fight to a standstill. We sincerely appreciate the resilience of Nigerian students led by the National PRO of NANS, Giwa Yisa Temitope, Deputy Senate President, Ekundina Elvis, Vice-President, Inter-Campus Affairs, Vanessa Egbeahie, Vice-President (External Affairs), Akinteye Babatunde, Omotosho Surprise, Olusesi Tolulope Samson, Kehinde Damilola Simeon, Adeleke Quadri Abidemi and Niniola Jelili Olaniyi, NANS/JCC Chairmen, Ondo, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun, who have joined in the first phase of the struggle so far and we acknowledge the positive responses from our parents at the barricades. These positive responses is a motivation to continue the lined-up agitation until our demands are met.
“Conclusively, the national leadership of the association shall inform Nigerian people the next phase of the struggle to come in the days ahead.”
