22nd November, 2018
Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan
The Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, University of Ibadan, UI, Chapter, Dr Deji Omole has said that the ongoing strike embarked upon by the union would not be called off unless the Federal Government do the needful by resolving all the contending issues.
Omole stated this on Tuesday while briefing newsmen after the congress of the union in Ibadan, stressing that the union would not allow the ruling elite to destroy the heritage of the poor, which is qualitative public education.
According to him, the position of ASUU was a fall out of the first meeting held with the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige which did not go into substantive issues that led to the strike.
It will be recalled that about three weeks ago, the union had declared total, indefinite and comprehensive strike over failure of the Buhari-led federal government to fulfill the content of the Memorandum of Action it signed with the Union in 2017 bothering on Revatilisation and funding of universities, unpaid accumulated earned academic earned allowances, release of University staff pension company license among other issues.
Omole pointed out that Wale Babalakin, who is the leader of Federal Government team is being rejected by the Union because he is an interested party pursuing a private university license and will do everything to jeopardize public education funding.
He stated that a situation whereby two members in the federal government team are pursuing their private university licenses indicate they would not favour funding of public education.
The ASUU scribe maintained that the three-week old ASUU strike is borne out of genuine and patriotic commitment to ensure a better future for children of the masses and that of Nigeria.
Dismissing the allegation being bandied by the government that the strike was political, Omole said, “How can our strike be political when there are matters that you as government signed into and you failed to fulfill your promises? To us, it is the Federal government that is being political with the truth by becoming untrustworthy.
“How can the President and his Vice be asking Nigerian universities to become one of the leading universities of the world without making the same commitments responsive and responsible governments in the world are making to Education? Our leadership has shown consistent disrespect for agreements and this is why they can no longer be trusted by our Union.”