Strike: Suswam’s committee didn’t advise FG properly, says ASUU

UMUAHIA – The Academic Staff Union of
Universities, ASUU, has blamed chairman
of universities’ NEEDS Assessment
Committee and governor of Benue State,
Mr. Gabriel Suswam, for the lingering
strike by the union.
According to the union, the governor and
his committee did not advise the Federal
Government properly.
ASUU also accused Suswam of trying to
blackmail the union but warned that no
amount of blackmail or intimidation
would stop it from pursuing the
implementation of the 2009 FG/ASUU
agreement, which was the only way to
move the nation’s education forward.
Briefing newsmen at the Michael Okpara
University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia
State, the Calabar Zone of the union, led
by Dr. Charles Ononuju, accused the
NEEDS Committee of rushing to release
money to pro-chancellors and vice
chancellors, instead of addressing
abnormalities in the NEEDS Report
Implementation Committee.
Flanked by ASUU chairmen at the
university of Calabar, Michael Okpara
University of Agriculture, University of Uyo
and Cross River State University of
Technology, Calabar, Ononuju said by
throwing arbitrary awards at the
universities, the government had
repudiated the 2009 agreement and 2012
MoU.
He said: “Since the commencement of the
strike, our union has met with
government team for more than 11 times.
After the last meeting, the union raised
some observations/abnormalities on the
Governor Gabriel Suswan-led NEEDS
Report Implementation Committee and
communicated same to the chairman of
the committee, Governor Suswan,
expecting a response.
“Rather than responding to the
observations raised by the union that
would usher in quick and peaceful
resolution of the impasse, the government
summoned a meeting with pro-
chancellors and vice chancellors and
offered to them N130 billion with a
matching order for the lecturers to return
to work, thereby pulling out of the
dialogue.
“Government, by throwing arbitrary
awards at the universities, has in effect
repudiated the 2009 Agreement and the
MoU of 2012 based on that agreement.
We reject the arbitrary imposition of
money from the government. What makes
a person, an organisation, including
government honourable is honouring an
agreement freely made.
“The government should honour the
agreement it freely entered into with the
union since 2009. ASUU is not making
any fresh demands. This is our position
and where we stand and shall continue to
stand.”
Ononuju also attacked Governor Suswam
for accusing the union of playing politics
with its demands, describing the
governor’s position as “false, dishonest,
calculated to misinform the public and
cause disaffection towards the union.”
“Rather than seek cheap popularity, he
should tow the part of honour by asking
his principal to honour the agreement.
“We hereby call on our members and the
Nigerian people to reject this cheap
blackmail and continue to stand on the
path of truth and social justice.”
“No amount of blackmail will make the
union jettison our resolve to get the
government to implement the 2009 ASUU/
FG Agreement and MoU of January 24,
2012.
“We wish to emphasise strongly here that
our struggle has no political undertone as
is being falsely and mischievously
propagated. Those saying otherwise are
economical with the truth.”
….As SSANU, NASU, others give FG
ultimatum over August salary
By KELECHI AZUBUIKE
ABUJA—Three other unions in the
nation’s university system, besides the
Academic Staff Union of Universities,
ASUU, yesterday, gave the Federal
Government till tomorrow to pay the
August salary of members or they will
begin an indefinite strike.
The unions are Senior Staff Association of
Nigeria University, SSANU, National
Association of Technologists, NAAT, and
Non Academic Staff Union, NASU.
President of SSANU, Samson Chijioke
Ugwoke, in a statement said: “I, Samson
Chijioke Ugwoke call on Federal
Government of Nigeria to release the
August 2013 salaries of federal university
workers without further delay. Today is
September 11, 2013, and August 2013,
allocations to Federal universities are yet
to be released and no one has given
reasons for the delay.
“This situation is unhealthy and it is
bringing untold hardship to the workers,
their families and dependents. SSANU
and other sister unions in Joint Action
Committee, JAC, will be forced to review
her stand with the Federal Government if
by Friday, August 13, 2013, the salaries of
our members are not paid”.