The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Chris Piwuna, has restated that there is no going back on its planned two weeks nationwide warning strike over some lingering issues, if the federal government fails to respond on or before October 13 expiry date.
The planned strike follows a two-week ultimatum issued by the union, last week, asking the federal government to address its unresolved issues, including the signing and implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, reports Daily Independent.
Speaking with newsmen during the Orientation/Leadership Training for Academic Staff Union, Niger Delta University branch, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Piwuna insisted that the union has agreed on their position on a warning strike which will not change except their demands with the Federal Government are met.
He said, “The warning strike has been issued and we are not meeting to discuss that again as a union because our position has been taken, and by midnight of Monday we will embark on two weeks warning strike, after which we will meet after the expiration to decide when to begin an indefinite and comprehensive strike action.
“The issues still remain the same, re-negotiation of our 2009 documents is still lingering over the years, and we want Nigerians to know that we have been talking and the strike action is coming after several years of negotiations and we are not just jumping on a strike.
“We have given government enough time on this particular issue, just imagine they gave us three weeks to get back to us and never did till this moment. Nigerians must always look at the actions of government that has always pushed us to such actions”.
On the issue of NELFUND, Piwuna said, “We have told government that we do not support loan in such a depressed economy. An economy where unemployment rate is high, families can’t feed, so where from where do they want them to repay the loan.
“If they truly want to give them monies, they should come out clean; where are the jobs that will enable them repay the loans, if the monies are meant to make the universities run better it should be given as a grant, not a loan.
“Recently, some of the reports coming from NELFUND makes us think we are right, when an organisation that is less than a year since it’s establishment and has less than a hundred staff is spending 14 billion naira on personnel, when even this university that has over 1000 staff can’t spend that amount in a year including building of structures”.
Speaking at the Orientation/ Leadership Training on the topic, ‘Understanding the Principles of the Union’, the National Financial Secretary, ASUU, Comrade Happiness Uduk, reiterated that ASUU has not just been known as a union of intellectuals but of intellectuals with integrity, urging members to always maintain the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability no matter the pressure.
Also, Comrade Prof. Ezekiel Ogheneyerhovwo Agbalagba, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Delta State, who spoke on ‘Understanding the Dynamics of ASUU and University Administration’, admonished members to stick to the principles of ASUU work guide as writing and compiled by former President of the Union, Comrade Festus Iyayi.
He also mentioned that collaboration among members will help achieve excellence in education, adding that if ASUU members understand their roles it will help bring change in the institutions.
Prof. Allen .A. Agih, Vice Chancellor, Niger Delta University, commended members and organisers of the training workshop, and also appealed that it should be a frequent thing because of its importance.
