Why we joined ASUU strike- Unizik chapter

The Chairman, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Dennis Aribodor, has stated the reason why the lecturers in the institution joined the ongoing strike called by the national leadership of the union which began on Tuesday, August 14, 2017.

Aribodor, who spoke shortly after the union’s congress at their secretariat in Awka, the Anambra State capital, said: “We joined the struggle in order to have public universities that will be pride of all, to secure the future of our children and their own children’s future as well, and to lay the foundation for a university system capable of producing a country of our dream. We must make the Federal and State governments to implement the provisions of the 2009 Agreement, the MoU of 2013 and the understanding reached.

They also said that failure of the Federal Government Agreement of 1992 with ASUU that staff primary schools would not only provide teaching laboratories for students of faculties of Education, but should also be part of the welfare package for university workers.

ASUU’s grouse also include the Non-release of the operational Licence of Nigeria Universities Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO) and Pension Matters.

As a result of the failure by the Federal/State Governments to implement fully the agreement reached with ASUU on October 2009, the Academic Staff Union of Universities having persevered for nearly four years without its patience bearing the desired fruits decided to conduct the referendum in all its branches.

The result of the referendum showed that the overwhelming majority of the branches voted in favour of the strike.

Consequently, we have resolved to rescue the educational system from the current disaster, and are certain of collective victory! That is the lesson of history,” ASUU said.