FG Accuses ASUU Of Lying Over Strike

The Federal Government has accused the Academic
Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) of
being economical with the truth on lecturers
prolonged industrial action in the universities.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on
Youth and Students Matters, Com. Jude Imagwe,
stated that the claim by the union that its action
was to restore infrastructural decay in universities
was nothing but a lie, noting that ASUU was
fighting for allowances.
Imagwe was speaking in Abuja when he received
some youth groups, who were on a visit to his
office. His words: “They initially told us that it was
about infrastructure, but it is about allowances.
N30b has been released for the payment of their
accumulated allowances, and N100b earmarked for
infrastructural development. It is important for the
public to know that government did not say this is
all that it will give, but government says go and
start the payment with this amount and let us know
the amount it will add”.
Meanwhile, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian
Universities, SSANU, will tomorrow join ASUU on
strike as the union said it has mobilized its
members across the country to embark on
industrial action over alleged stoppage of their
salaries for two months. SSANU, in a letter, dated
27 September, 2013, and addressed to its branch
chairmen in all the universities in the country,
directed its members to stay away from work from
tomorrow until the salaries are fully paid.
The President of SSANU, Comrade Samson
Ugwoke, said the strike will be total, while the
General Secretary, who signed the letter directing
members to stay at home from tomorrow, Comrade
Promise Adewusi, said no member should go back
to work until a counter directive was given.
Adewusi stated that the union took the decision
following its letters to the vice-chancellors in
universities, the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Ministers of
Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu and
Education, Nyesom Wike, as well as the Executive
Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof.
Julius Okojie. In the meantime, the suspended strike
by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics
(ASUP) is to resume on Friday.
The union alleged insincerity and failure of the
Federal Government to honour agreement entered
with the union.
The union also passed a vote of no confidence on
the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE),
alleging that the board has failed to meet the needs
and demands of polytechnic education in the
country.

VANGUARD