Several chapters of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have voted for an end to the 5 month strike, indicating that there may be respite for idle students across the country in the form of a halt to the strike action.
According to information available at press time, the chapters who voted for an end to the strike include University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State University (LASU), University of Calabar (UNICAL), Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Federal University of Technology Minna and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.
However some other University chapters voted for continuation of the strike. One of the chapters is the University of Jos (UNIJOS).
UNIJOS chapter chairman Dr. David Jankam said, “We have just rounded off our meeting. As a matter of fact, our members voted overwhelmingly for the continuation of the strike.
“I can also confirm to you that five of the eight universities that make up the Bauchi Zone of ASUU have also voted for continuation of the strike, and the general saying is that the government has not shown any commitment so far.
“We started the meeting by briefing our members on issues resolved with the Federal Government in the last meeting with the president of ASUU.
“But in responding to the briefing, our members observed that the main issues that led to the strike were not discussed at the Aso Rock meeting.
“As such, my members said President Jonathan is taking them for a ride by trying to divert attention from the core subjects of the strike.”
The Chairman of the ASUU chapter at the IBB University, Comrade Yahaya Badeggi, said “The congress at IBBU Lapai resolved that the strike continues until when the National Executive Council of the union decides otherwise. We know they are still negotiating. We shall abide by the decision of NEC.”
Badeggi added: “I make bold to say that the action has produced some positive results. From the N100 billion released, our university got N450 million. This would not have been so but for the strike. I believe that at the end of the day, the university system will be better for it.”
Chairman of Bayero University, Kano, Dr. Fatai Jimoh, said, “I have the mandate to take the decision of the congress to NEC. But, if you insist to know, majority of our members called for the suspension of the strike but with the government fulfilling three conditions.
“Don’t ask me the conditions, because we don’t want it yet in the public domain. All I can tell you is that the strike is still on, until the NEC of the union decides otherwise.”
Sources close to ASUU said the conditions being bandied about in other chapters are, ‘members do not want to be victimized for their role in the strike’ and also ‘requested for payment of their earned academic allowances’