THE presidency Tuesday said that the Federal Government has met with demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU and there was no need to maintain the strike, just as it stressed that the agreement was reached sequel to the last meeting held between Federal Government and ASUU.
According to the Presidency, the administration believes that with the agreement and the result of the votes across the campuses, ASUU has no reason for further sustenance of the strike, even as it called on the Union to comply with the call on them to resume work without further delay.
This is coming as the ultimatum issued to ASUU lapses today.
Speaking in Abuja during an interactive session with leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students’ Matters, Comrade Jude Imagwe who noted that a larger membership of ASUU campus chapters had voted for the immediate call-off of the strike, stressed that the directive given by the government was not targeted to threaten the ASUU leadership, but designed to show government’s commitment towards ensuring that all university students return to school.
According to him, ASUU leaders must work in line with the directives by ensuring that all students get back to the campus as the government would ensure a water-tight security on the campuses, adding, “The Nigerian public should be informed that the government has met all the promises they made on this ASUU issue. If they have not agreed, there was no reason for them to have said they would meet their members and get back . It means there was an agreement that was reached.
“The Minister of Education announced that lecturers should resume, it was not in anyway targeted at threatening or compelling the leadership of ASUU to go back to school.”
In his remarks, NANS president, Comrade Yinka who maintained tha its association was neutral, said that it supports a just cause, adding that the association was standing by the government because it was working in line with its desire which was for all schools to reopen.
