The academic staff union of universities has given a new update on the it’s nationwide strike following a series of meeting with the house of representatives leadership.
The president of the union, Prof Emmanuel Osodoke speaks in a statement addressed to members and made available to Journalists on Saturday.
It reads: “Our strike action is is 8th month, As we press on with the struggle, members are saluted for remaining steadfast in the face of deprivations occasioned by the stoppage
of our salaries. We have demonstrated to our muligners that we are a group of principled men and women who cannot be intimidated.
This resolve has started yielding fruits as demonstrated by series of engagements with us by relevant stakeholders and agents of government.
In the last two weeks, we have had two engagements with the leadership of House of
Representatives, led by the Honourable Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, The engagements have been useful and illuminating, and all the parties agreed that negotiation is the sustainable way out of the current impasse.
“The distraction of the referral by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment tothe National Industral Court (NIC) had been responded to promptly and appropriately. The interlocutory injunction had been appeal, in addition to a stay of execution. Consequently, we are not in violation of that order by remaining on our strike.”
“We remain hopeful that the issues under consideration will receive a favourable consideration and approval of Mr. President. The days ahead would be critical to ours struggle as some overzealous public officers who are bent on undermining our struggle would not easly give up.”
“However, we are encouraged by the development ofthe past
week and all that is expected of us now is to be etemally vigilant and resolute to
pursue this struggle to a logical conclusion. The Union is expecting feedback from the engagements ofthe leadership of the House of Representatives with Mr. Present in
the coming days,
Please avoid the temptation of relying on socal media for information as that may not
tbe helpful or useful at this period. Therefore, always get information from the
structures ofthe Union.”The statement ends
DAILY GIST reported that ASUU had been on strike since February 14 to press home the demand for improved funding for universities, a review of salaries for lecturers, replacement of UTAS with IPPIS among other issues.
