The Abuja Zonal office of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has debunked rumour that the union will embark on a nationwide industrial action on 2nd October, 2016.
Nasarawa State University branch Chairman of the union, Dr. Theophilus Daniel Lagi, made the position of ASUU, Abuja zone known to newsmen in Keffi yesterday.
He explained that there was never a time the union issued such threat.
Dr Lagi described as untrue the statement credited to him and the branch chairman, University of Abuja, Dr. Ben Ugbeoke that they specifically said ASUU was set to shutdown universities should the federal government fail to meet-up their demands by October 2nd.
He noted that the only body that has the right to declare a nationwide strike (or warning strike) was the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU, not its zonal office or an individual.
He emphasised that before any action as such could be embarked upon, there were usually processes and procedures that have to be followed to its logical conclusion.
The chairman stressed that ASUU would not hastily go on strike without channelling its grievances to appropriate quarters for intervention.
Dr. Lagi however admitted holding press conference in Abuja on some pressing issues that needed Federal Government urgent attention, as failure to address the requests would lead to the disruption of academic activities in all public universities across the country upon the certification of the National body of ASUU.
He added that during the press conference, there was no question asked by a journalist or statement to the effect that ASUU would embark on strike on 2nd October, 2016.
According to Dr. Lagi, “There was a press briefing by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Abuja Zone that was held in the University of Abuja secretariat on the 31st August, 2016.
“What we really informed the pressmen was on the growing agitation across Nigeria public universities, because if you recall, there are these agitations not just within Abuja zone. Other zones were also mandated to sensitize the public on certain key fundamental issues bedevilling Nigeria universities.
“These issues specifically regarding on funding of the universities for revitalization in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Federal Government entered into with ASUU in 2013, renegotiation of the federal government–ASUU agreement, which ASUU believe will reposition the entire education sector of the country for better service delivery, upward review of the budgetary allocation to the education sector, arbitrary removal of some vice chancellors and sacking of governing councils.
“Others issues are amendment of JAMB, NUC and national minimum standards and establishment of institutions Act of 2004, review of inclusion of universities in the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
“Facilitation of the registration of Nigeria Universities pension management company (NUPEMCO), deliberate cut in personnel costs allocations to federal universities, occasioning salary shortfalls, refusal to pay Earned Academic Allowances to members since 2009 and inability of the president, federal government and visitors to all federal and state universities to meet with ASUU on these issues.”
“As far as the Abuja zone of ASUU is concerned, we have to disabuse the minds of the general public. I don’t know where this information that is flying over the radio, television and newspapers is coming from. I think whoever is doing this has no respect to our union.
“For anybody to do that is wrong. If ASUU is going to embark on any form of action there are processes and the whole world will know.
Dr. Lagi however called on students, religion and traditional leaders, market women and politicians to prevail on the government to do the needful in order to avert any action that would shutdown activities across all public universities in the country.
The ASUU Abuja zone comprises of the University of Abuja, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Ibrahim Babagida University Lapai, and Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
Comments