Image caption: ASUU members staging rally at LAUTECH on Wednesday ahead nationwide strike
Don’t let this strike happen, stakeholders appeal to FG to meet ASUU demands
Adebayo ADELEKE
“We are willing to participate in your demonstrations to emphasize your requests,” stakeholders express their support to ASUU.
Stakeholders have appealed to the federal and state governments to accede to the requests of the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) in order to avert another round of strike in the Nigerian ivory towers.
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This plea was made Thursday during a Town Hall meeting organized by the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso ASUU, on the looming industrial action branch held in the school premises.
The programme aimed at sensitizing Nigerians on why ASUU might embark on a strike again with a view to seeking public support was attended by religious leaders, parents and guardians, motorists and motorcyclists, traders, students and other stakeholders.
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Addressing the stakeholders, the chairman of LAUTECH ASUU, Prof. Babatunde Lawal stated that their clamour which he noted may appear frequent is as a result of the government’s refusal to fulfil the promise made with ASUU in 2009 that would have engendered smooth running of universities in Nigeria.
Prof Lawal said their struggle is not for personal aggrandizement but to improve the lots of universities in the area of administration, research, teaching and whatnot.
“We are not fighting for personal interest; we are fighting for how universities system will be effectively run. The government breached an agreement we had in 2009, which included an understanding that the agreement would be subjected to review after three years. But neither was the agreement implemented nor any review made in 2012 or any other time,” the union leader submitted.
Also, secretary of the body, Professor Toyin Abegunrin, remarked that offering sound education to the masses is now an herculean task, lamenting how the poor academic system is affecting the effectiveness of teaching-learning process and in carrying out research work.
He said, “They want to bastadise education system. The materials needed for good research work and teaching materials are now mostly bought by our members committing our hard earned money. Masses now find it difficult to send their children to universities, it is more difficult to give them sound education. So, ASUU’s concern is good education system.”
Contributing at the programme, Comrade Samson Opaola, a retired civil servant admonished the union to have interface with lawmakers, traditional rulers, political bigwigs and other stakeholders so that “they can assist in reaching out to and pleading with the people at the helms of affairs for necessary action to be done towards thwarting the imminent strike in citadels of learning”.
While also expressing his view, a representative of the Park Management System, showed displeasure at the hardship usually experienced by traders, artisans, motorists and others.
He recalled some drivers sold their vehicles during the last strike that lasted about 8 months in 2022 appealing to government and the union to resolve the matter amicably.
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“The adverse effects of strikes is untoward. Traders, artisans, motorists and others in the vicinity of the university suffered immensely during the strike embarked upon by the union which lasted for like eight months in 2022, it’s nothing to write home about. Some sold their cars, some could not withstand staying in Ogbomoso because of joblessness although after the dust settled, they immigrated back home to continue in their various businesses”.
Drumming support for the academic union, he urged that a peaceful protest comprising traders, monthly earners, students, artisans should be staged.
“Let us launch what they call rally, a peaceful one, that would not be only attended by the members of the academic union but the students, motorists, traders and others. It concerns us too.”
Among the grievances of ASUU are arbitrary dissolution of governing councils in universities, non-implementation of the 2009 agreement between the union and the federal government, promotion arrears and poor funding of public universities.
The union in May issued a three-week ultimatum and has embarked on campaigns on zonal basis to drive home its requests.
