18th October, 2010
Final year students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, have appealed to ASUU to call off its three weeks old strike.
They made the appeal today in Ago-Iwoye in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Three weeks ago, the leadership of ASUU directed its members in all state universities where its agreement with government on new salary scale for lecturers had yet to be implemented, to go on strike.
The students said the strike would affect their chances of being registered for the next batch of NYSC call-up to the camp.
They said the strike could also tempt some of them to engage in anti-social activities, stressing that, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop”.
The students appealed to both government and the leadership of ASUU to find a lasting solution to the problem to enable them to write their examinations.
Miss Rukayat Ikudaisi, a final year student, appealed to the relevant authorities to meet ASUU’s demands, so that the strike could be called off.
“We don’t want to engage in ungodly acts. We are tired of sitting at home. ASUU should call off the strike for the sake of students,” she added.
Another final year student, Mr. Kunle Lawal, said the strike was threatening his expectation of participating in the next batch of National Youth Service.
“Most of us are sitting at home doing nothing, and the possibility of meeting the next batch of service is not certain,” he said.
Dr. Nassir Adesola, Chairman, OOU chapter of ASUU, told NAN on telephone that the strike was nationally coordinated and could not be suspended locally.
“The strike is national in coordination. It involves all state universities where the agreement on the new salary scale had yet to be implemented.
“It is not within our immediate power to suspend the strike. It is something that is coordinated at the national level,” he added.
Nassir, however, announced that the OOU authority had invited the union for a meeting today.
“We are looking forward to seeing what the outcome of the meeting will be.
“The outcome of the meeting will be communicated to the national body for consideration,” he said.
