End ASUU strike now: Buhari orders Ngige

WORRIED by the lingering strike embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday directed Labour & Employment Minister Chris Ngige to resolve the dispute between the union and the Federal Government.

Dr. Ngige, who spoke at the resumed negotiation meeting between the government and the union, said the President was concerned about the continued stay at home of students and has directed that the strike be brought to an immediate end.

The minister said: “The President has directed me to pass the night here until all issues that have kept our children away from school are resolved and strike called off. He has also directed me to impress upon you, the imperative of little sacrifice from all sides, knowing full well that the revenue of the federation has dwindled from what it was before the present administration assumed office.”

The minister further said: “President Buhari is greatly worried about the situation in the university system, hence, his steady and holistic approach to tackling the rot through adequate funding, notwithstanding the dwindling revenue accruals.

“The President told me to assure you of his determination to reposition our universities as he would do everything possible to cast the present challenges in our tertiary education to the dustbin of history.”

The meeting between the government and the union which started at about 5pm was still ongoing at the Conference Room, the Ministry of Labour at the time of this report.

Also yesterday, the Senate of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma asked students to resume for the 2018/2019 academic session next Sunday for the commencement of academic activities on February 28. The resumption dates were announced following an emergency meeting of the university Senate yesterday during which the decision was taken to recall students to school and the academic calendar reviewed.

The resumption came as ASUU and the government continued negotiation on how to end the strike that started on November 4, last year.

It is not unconnected with some lecturers of the university breaking away from ASUU to join the Congress of Universities Academics (CONUA), which held its inaugural meeting Wednesday last week.

A statement signed by the Deputy Registrar, Information/Public Relations Officer of the university, Edward Aihevba, directed the new and returning students to resume and lecturers to return to class by next Monday.

The statement reads: “Senate, at its emergency meeting held on Monday, 21st January, 2019, after due deliberations, has directed as follows: that students should come into their halls of residence on Sunday, 27th January, 2019; that Academic activities should resume in the University on Monday, 28th January, 2019; that lecturers should immediately commence lectures; that Registration for courses, clearance of Fresh students, payment of school fees, etc should commence immediately and; that Heads of Department are required to closely monitor compliance with the above directives. All staff, students and the University community should please be guided.”

CONUA also met on yesterday to direct its members to resume academic activities on Monday in line with Senate directives.

The inauguration of CONUA was inspired by the Dean, Faculty of Law, Prof Sunday Edeko, who is taught his courses and others across and all levels during the ASUU strike.

Read also: End in sight for ASUU strike as govt, union agree on seven areas

In a statement signed by Edeko, now CONUA interim Chairman, and Secretary, Dr. Ernest Nwoke, the union noted: “The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) in its last congress that held on Wednesday 16′” of January 2019, called on all its members and other lecturers of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, to resume academic activities forthwith, the congress also commended highly the   Dean of the Faculty or law, Prof S.E Edeko, for the fit (sic) of keeping a whole Faculty in session,   by being sacrificial in teaciling courses that belong to him and other lecturers during the period.

“The congress encouraged its members to emulate him in being sacrificial as they resume academic activities in the 2018/2019Acadenlic session.”

The union urged ASUU to end the strike, saying it did not yield desired results.

“The Congress noted in its last meeting held at the Office of the Dean Faculty of law that strike actions have failed in its entirety and promises nothing substantial for the academia, students, Ambrose Alli University and Nigeria as a whole. More constructive and productive approaches should be explored in getting the necessary attention from the government.”

Nwoke told The Nation in a text message that over a hundred members that make up CONUA defected from ASUU in last one month.