ASUU may not honour further FG meetings — National President

Biodun Ogunyemi ASUU President
Ogunyemi

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it may not honour further calls by Federal Government for a meeting on how to meet the demands of the striking workers and end the strike that has crippled the education sector.

ASUU national president Biodun Ogunyemi said this on Sunday in Lagos.

The union had on November 4 embarked on what it described as a ‘total, comprehensive and indefinite strike.’

They are protesting the non-implementation of agreements entered into with the federal government in 2009 and 2017, as well as funding and improved welfare for members, among other issues.

Mr Ogunyemi said the union had held series of consultative meetings with the government and written series of letters with little or no effect.

“Since the commencement of this strike, we have had six meetings with agents of the Federal Government, with no clear commitment from government to resolving the issues we presented.

“Government appears to have adopted ‘keep them talking’ strategy while deceiving the public that progress was being made and that partial agreements had been reached between union and government.

“We want to say that government has continually and falsely raised the hopes of the Nigerian public on the state of duscussion with our union and we may not be interested in holding further dialogue with them until we see signs of commitment and sincerity in addressing the issues before them.

“Our expectation from a very responsive and sincere position is that by now, all outstanding issues would gave been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties.

“Unfortunately, government is yet to show commitment and sincerity in addressing these problems,” Ogunyemi said.