By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
For the umpteenth time, the President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke has urged Nigerians to ask the federal government what it’s doing to resolve the imbroglio between the Union and the government.
Professor Osodeke who spoke on Channels Television breakfast programme Sunrise Daily on Tuesday against the backdrop of the four weeks extention of the five month-old strike embarked upon by ASUU and indeed, all university-based unions, has disclosed that his union has not been contacted by the federal government and its agencies on how best to resolve the issues which led to the strike action.
According to him, it’s about time Nigerians asked the federal government questions on how it is going about the resolution of the impasse between the two, pointing out that ASUU is still in the dark on what the federal government and its agencies are doing to resolve the issues which the Union raised with the government.
Said he: “Nigerians should ask the federal government what it’s doing to resolve the lingering issues between the two parties. ASUU is favourably disposed to end the strike action but the federal government is not forthcoming hence our union has decided to extend the strike action to four weeks”.
Reminded that President Muhammadu Buhari two weeks ago directed the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to resolve the issues with ASUU within 14 days and revert to him, Professor Osodeke said nobody has reached out to the Union in the past two weeks.
“Frankly speaking the Minister of Education has not reached out to ASUU. Probably he is not the type that talks too much like his colleagues in other ministries. He may be doing things quietly to resolve the issues but we have not heard from him.
“We are waiting and hoping that the federal government can resolve these issues as quickly as possible so we can go back to the lecture rooms.
“I like to teach my students so I want the matter to be settled quickly”, the ASUU President said.
