What FG must do to end strike – ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU, has outlined steps the government must take to end its six-month-long academic strike.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, on Tuesday,ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said the government must exhibit transparency.

“Government should tell us and Nigerians – the money that has been alleged to have been approved for revitalisation – how much is it and where is it lodged? When will it be released?” Prof Osodeke said.

The university don added that the government must clearly state its position on the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), a payroll system which ASUU wants as a replacement for the Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS).

“Three, have they accepted the agreement we reached with their panel? They should come and tell us this, and not go to the press,” Prof. Osodeke said.

The ASUU President accused the Federal Government of appealing to sensibilities rather than solving the issues raised by the union.

“Strike is a symptom of a problem,” Prof Osodeke said, adding “Any day you sort out that problem, you will not have strike.”

The ASUU president said the Federal Government should have used the recovered $23 million Abacha loot to meet its demands.

Recall that last week Tuesday, the federal government and the US reached an agreement to repatriate a new batch of funds looted by Sani Abacha, the former Nigerian head of state.

Abubakar Malami, minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation, said the recovered loot, which is tagged ‘Abacha-5’, has been earmarked for the completion of the Abuja-Kano road, Lagos-Ibadan expressway and the Second Niger Bridge.

Following the announcement, conversation has been rife on whether the federal government is making the right decision on the recovered loot amid the lingering ASUU strike.

Giving his take on the development, Osodeke said the federal government would have deployed the recovered loot to education if the government loves the sector.

“Definitely. Let’s use a typical man as an example, you have a house and your child is sick seriously and you were paid money that you were not expecting. Where will you put the money?” the ASUU president asked.

“That child should be the first thing you will treat. Is it not? Before you will start thinking about how you are going to buy clothes.

“Your universities are shut for six months. You now have access to a fund you were not expecting, If you really love education, where should you put the money? In that particular place. They said they don’t have money. We need to love this country.”

Reacting to reports that ASUU had stopped negotiations with the federal government, Osodeke said: “In Nigeria, we have so many media — social media and what have you. They just release issues just to get popularity. We never said so. We are open to negotiations and invitations as a union.”

ASUU has been on strike since February 14.

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On Monday, the union declared a “total and indefinite” extension of its industrial action, noting that the government has failed to satisfactorily meets its demands.

The academics are seeking improved welfare, revitalisation of public universities and academic autonomy among other demands.

One bone of contention for the academics is the non-payment of university revitalisation funds, which amounts to about N1.1 trillion.

But the Federal Government has said it doesn’t have the money to pay such an amount, citing low oil prices during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.