ASUU President Dr Nasir Fagge, left, and Nigerian Minister of Education Nyesom Wike. (ASUU; Facebook)
Last week, the ASUU and the Nigerian Federal Government signed an accord that could end the strike, which started in July and has left hundreds of thousands of students in limbo–while essentially losing a semester.
Professor Ike Odimegwu, the chairman of ASUU Chapter for Nnamdi Azikwe University, told the Daily Post that the union is standing behind the promise to make its intention known by Wednesday.
“You know we reached that agreement and signed it 6pm last Wednesday (Dec. 11), he told the Post. “After that, we promised Nigerians that we will communicate our decision within a week.”
He added that “there is still ample time to do so until 6pm of next Wednesday. The people should not be agitated. On our part, we are ready to effect our side of the deal so no cause for alarm.”
Nigerian people and students should stay calm in the meantime.
“Nigerians should keep calm and not speculate anything. We all love this country and all we are doing is for the good of the university system,” he said.
A report from The Punch newspaper corroborated what the Daily Post reported Saturday. It said the ASUU would end the industrial action next week.
The strike was called in July after the ASUU claimed the government did not implement a 200 agreement that would increase the welfare of teachers while upgrading state-run facilities.
The ASUU kept on with the strike after the government and Committee of Vice-Chancellors threatened to sack the lecturers who refused to work.
Before the Wednesday deal was signed last week, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, showed there was proof that N200 billion was deposited into an account belonging to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
After last week’s deal was signed, Minister of Education Nyesom Wike told the All Africa website that “I am very pleased to announce that all contending issues between ASUU and the Federal Government have been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties.”
“Let me emphasize that we recognize and appreciate ASUU’s patriotic role and determination to ensure that our universities are well funded, resources provided and run like their counterparts in other parts of the world,” he added. “We are all partners in progress and there is no victor, no vanquish in a struggle of this nature and our goal remains noble and targeted at moving our nation forward.
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