Feelers emanating from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),suggests that the association my soon call for another round of strike action, two months after calling off a near-six-month strike.
The association is rearing to go on strike again because of an alleged non-compliance by the Federal Government with the agreement signed between both parties, last December, prior to ASUU’s decision to call off the industrial action.
ASUU’s National Treasurer, Dr. Ademola Aremu, who made the revelation in Ibadan on Saturday by ASUU appealed to Nigerians to prevail on the Federal Government to honour and not breach the gentlemanly agreements reached.
Butressing his claims, the university don noted that despite assurances from the FG that it will fund universities, the government was yet to do so.
“ASUU members are not strike mongers; our last strike was inevitable, although it was preventable. Of the N220 billion that the Federal Government promised to release to our universities for their development, as we are talking now, the money that is to be warehoused with the Central Bank is yet to be released. The Federal Government’s promises remain just promises. We are appealing to Nigerians, through the media, to help us appeal to the Federal Government to make the promises become a reality.”
ASUU maintained that, inasmuch as its members would not want to resort to strikes in settling issues with the government, they would want Nigerians to know that the conditions of the universities really needed to be improved upon.
Recall, the Federal Government released N200 billion to the universities before ASUU called off its strike, with an expectation that a total sum of N1.3 trillion would be released in the next six years.
Attempts to get reactions from the Minister of Education, Dr. Nyesom Wike, yesterday was unsuccessful, as he was said to be outside the country on official assignment, while the Permanent Secretary in the ministry could also not be reached.
Wike’s Personal Assistant, Mr. Lambert Oparah, in a telephone conversation Saturday said, that he was not competent to comment on the said looming strike. His words: “Please, I am not competent to speak on the topic. Only the minister or the Permanent Secretary can make statements or comments on such matters. The minister is out of the country on official duty and the Permanent Secretary cannot be reached until Monday. But I assure you that the minister will speak on it on Monday (tomorrow).”