WARNING STRIKE ENDS.“GO BACK TO WORK.” ASUU CHAIRMAN INSTRUCTS LECTURERS
The president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, has confirmed that the one week warning strike which commenced on the 16th of November 2016 has ended.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), embarked on a one week warning strike on Wednesday the 16th of November, 2016. The union stated the non- implementation of a 2009 agreement, amongst others, as the rationale for its one week warning strike. During the course of the one week strike period, ASUU held talks with the Senate and even though talks are still ongoing, the union's president has urged lecturers to return to work in anticipation of an efficacious conclusion of negotiations in subsequent meetings and, of course, a settlement which will stand the test of time.
While speaking to the press on Tuesday, 22nd November 2016, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi said thus: "We are making progress especially with the intervention of the Senate. In the next one or two meetings, if we are able to get a clear path to the matter, we will avoid elongation of the Strike action.
"I have been receiving these reports that ASUU says strike continues. No. The strike ends today (Tuesday). All lecturers are to go back to work Wednesday morning."
It is undoubtedly clear from the words of the Union's president that there will be a positive outcome after one or two more meetings with the Senate owing to their response so far on the issue.
However, Dr. Ifeanyi Abada, the chairman of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka chapter of ASUU, unlike the union's president, has not been so optimistic. He has fervently affirmed that the strike would continue indefinitely thus: "ASUU was left with no option than to proceed on the one week warning strike, failure to meet our demands, we will go on an indefinite strike.
"The National Executive Committee made efforts to resolve this issue with the government but government remained unyielding. The strike compliance in UNN is total, no lectures, no examinations, no departmental and faculty meeting, as members will not participate.
"UNN chapter will not renege on the directive of the national body until government addresses all the issues raised. Our monitoring team is moving round; any lecturer found teaching will be sanctioned accordingly."
We all know how strike issues can be in Nigeria especially when it concerns ASUU. Hence, one cannot blame Dr. Ifeanyi Abada for his attitude. In truth, the meetings held with the Senate all ended in a Stalemate. Perhaps, ASUU president is trying to placate the worrying minds of Nigerian Students, especially those in final year.
Perhaps my mind is not as sharp as yours so maybe you can remember a warning strike that did not culminate in an indefinite strike. I do not wish for an indefinite strike. As a matter of fact, I pray that it does not arrive at that because I have many friends who are in their final year in federal universities. Students will also do well to pray harder than before because if uncertain gets to bad, they will not be resuming for school after the Christmas break until May next year.
To the Federal Government, I plead with you, settle this matter now before it compounds with the economic hardship.
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