ASUU: SUG Presidents From 7 Varsities Give FG 7-Day Ultimatum To End Strike

Presidents of students’ union governments in tertiary
institutions in Southwest Nigeria have issued a seven-day ultimatum
to the Federal Government to end the protracted strike by lecturers
or face nationwide protests.

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have
been on strike since February over non-implementation of agreements
and the use of a new payment programme, ISPSS, for their
salaries.

The student leaders gave the ultimatum while addressing
reporters at the University of Ibadan on Thursday.

At the press conference were Wisdom Okoko of the University of
Ilorin; Olamide Olabiyi of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
(LAUTECH), Ogbomoso; Michael Awoyemi of Olabisi Onabanjo
University, Ago-Iwoye,Ogun State; Abiodun Oloyede of the Federal
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUNAAB); Olusegun Akeju of
University of Ibadan and Lekan Abbul-Azeez Soneye of Tai Solarin
College of Education, Ogun State and Mayowa Opakunle of Joint
Action Committee (JAC) of the National Association of Nigerian
Students (NANS), Oyo State.

They lamented that students were bearing the brunt of the
industrial action.

Addressing reporters on behalf of others, Oloyede said:” We, the
great students of the federation, hereby demand an immediate end to
the incessant ASUU strike, adequate funding of the education sector
and prioritizing education as key to sustainable growth and
development. We request an end to the ongoing strike by the
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The struggle of ASUU
should never be undermined as we all truly know a revitalization
and improvement in the quality of infrastructure and regulation of
payment of salaries is needed.

“Ending ASUU strike by giving utmost consideration to our
demands is key and a way to kick-start. Do this and secure the
future of our beloved nation. In view of the above, we hereby give
the Federal Government an ultimatum of seven days to resolve the
crisis and get us back to school; else, there would be aggressive
nationwide agitations thereafter.

“We are going to use legal means for our agitation and others
that are within the legal framework of the nation. All means of
agitations will be used. Protest is one of the means”.

On his part, the President, University of Ilorin Students’
Union, Wisdom Okoko, said: “ASUU strike is killing us. We won’t
fold our hands and allow them to ruin our lives and future. The
Federal Government and ASUU are putting their interests forward.
Nobody is putting the interest of the students as a priority. We
have come to put the interest of our students as a priority.

“We can’t continue to keep quiet. ASUU and government are taking
us for a ride. ASUU is fighting for its interest. The earlier they
respond to our demand, the better for us.”

Presidents of students’ union governments in tertiary
institutions in Southwest Nigeria have issued a seven-day ultimatum
to the Federal Government to end the protracted strike by lecturers
or face nationwide protests.

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have
been on strike since February over non-implementation of agreements
and the use of a new payment programme, ISPSS, for their
salaries.

The student leaders gave the ultimatum while addressing
reporters at the University of Ibadan on Thursday.

At the press conference were Wisdom Okoko of the University of
Ilorin; Olamide Olabiyi of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
(LAUTECH), Ogbomoso; Michael Awoyemi of Olabisi Onabanjo
University, Ago-Iwoye,Ogun State; Abiodun Oloyede of the Federal
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUNAAB); Olusegun Akeju of
University of Ibadan and Lekan Abbul-Azeez Soneye of Tai Solarin
College of Education, Ogun State and Mayowa Opakunle of Joint
Action Committee (JAC) of the National Association of Nigerian
Students (NANS), Oyo State.

They lamented that students were bearing the brunt of the
industrial action.

Addressing reporters on behalf of others, Oloyede said:” We, the
great students of the federation, hereby demand an immediate end to
the incessant ASUU strike, adequate funding of the education sector
and prioritizing education as key to sustainable growth and
development. We request an end to the ongoing strike by the
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The struggle of ASUU
should never be undermined as we all truly know a revitalization
and improvement in the quality of infrastructure and regulation of
payment of salaries is needed.

“Ending ASUU strike by giving utmost consideration to our
demands is key and a way to kick-start. Do this and secure the
future of our beloved nation. In view of the above, we hereby give
the Federal Government an ultimatum of seven days to resolve the
crisis and get us back to school; else, there would be aggressive
nationwide agitations thereafter.

“We are going to use legal means for our agitation and others
that are within the legal framework of the nation. All means of
agitations will be used. Protest is one of the means”.

On his part, the President, University of Ilorin Students’
Union, Wisdom Okoko, said: “ASUU strike is killing us. We won’t
fold our hands and allow them to ruin our lives and future. The
Federal Government and ASUU are putting their interests forward.
Nobody is putting the interest of the students as a priority. We
have come to put the interest of our students as a priority.

“We can’t continue to keep quiet. ASUU and government are taking
us for a ride. ASUU is fighting for its interest. The earlier they
respond to our demand, the better for us.”