ASUU Under Pressure To End Strike

Following last Monday’s meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU), the later has come under mounting pressure to call off its four-month-old strike. The federal government had promised to inject N1.1 trillion into public varsities in the next five years. A zonal chairman of the union who spoke on condition of anonymity said the union has come under pressure to end the strike. He said some of the zonal chairmen feel the union would lose public sympathy if the strike is not called off after the offer by President Jonathan. He said, “Most of our members don’t trust the government. They don’t want any more promises. Though the president has given his word, our members are waiting to see the money released. Though somebody had deliberately leaked to the media that the government will to give N1.1 trillion to ASUU and this has put more pressure on the union, but also remember that the 2009 agreement is for N1.3 trillion.” Meanwhile, parents and students who spoke to LEADERSHIP said they expect ASUU to call of the strike following the meeting with President Jonathan. Mrs Evelyn Isuku, an Abuja resident said, “I expect ASUU to call off the strike before the end of the week. At least the government has promised to heed to their demands. What else are they waiting for?” Another resident, Okoye, said, “Our children have been at home for too long. If ASUU won’t listen to the president, then I don’t know who else will help to resolve the issue”. Members of the ASUU staged a walkout in July over claims that the government had failed to implement a 2009 agreement to improve their welfare and upgrade facilities on state-run campuses.