ASUU Expected To Call Off Strike This Week

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, may call off its four-month-old strike this week, as all chapters of the union are expected to hold their congresses today to brief members on President Goodluck Jonathan’s latest offer. Speaking to Vanguard, a branch Chairman of ASUU said the meeting was for the chairmen to brief members on the outcome of their meeting with President Jonathan.

He further said that the outcome of today’s meeting of the various branches would be communicated to the national leadership of the union, which will in turn convene an emergency NEC meeting between Wednesday and Thursday this week to consider the positions of various branches. “Branches throughout the country will be holding their congresses on Monday (today) to brief our members on the outcome of the meeting with the President. “It is at the meeting that the various branches will take position and communicate same to the national leadership Monday evening, then an emergency NEC meeting would be convened between Wednesday and Thursday.

“We have not been told of the venue, but we were told to prepare because it would take two days by road from my branch,” the Chairman, who did not want his name to be mentioned said.

According to him, calling for a strike or calling it off was not a decision taken by the ASUU President (Dr. Nasir Fagge) or the national executive alone.

ASUU has been on strike for over four months as a result of the Federal Government’s inability to implement the agreement it entered into in 2009 with lecturers.

After series of meetings and negotiations broke down without a solution to the impasse between ASUU and the federal government, the leadership of the Senate and President Jonathan waded into the matter, and held separate meetings with the union and relevant stakeholders last Monday, where new offers were made to the teachers with a plea for them to re-open universities.

From all indications, the four-month-old strike may be called off by the end of the week, as sources say the union, though may not be totally satisfied with the recent offer by the FG, may be forced to call off the lingering strike to show they are not deaf to the cry of Nigerians.