ASUU AWAITS COURT DECISION, BRANCHES MEET WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has decided that it’ll not embark on another strike over its payment cut but rather engage in peaceful discussion.

In a statement made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday after the National Executive Council meeting and inked by ASUU’s President,Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the union said it would continue to pursue a positive resolution of the avoidable extremity within the dimension of legitimacy without compromising the interests and weal of Nigerian intellectualists.
Some members of the union also verified to our pressman
that it would not go on strike for now.

In the statement, Osodeke also appealed for the understanding of Nigerian scholars, parents, and other authentically concerned individualities and groups.
The statement incompletely read, “ At an exigency meeting of the ASUU’s National Executive Committee, held on Monday, November 7, 2022, the union meditated on developments since the suspense of the strike. NEC noted with dismay that paying academics on a “pro-rata ” base, like casual workers, is unknown in the history of university- acquainted labour relations and thus condemned this attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers in its wholeness. ”

He added that the NEC confided the class of ASUU for their perseverance in the face of innumerous difficulty and unwarranted provocation by some notorious agents of the ruling class.
Still, examinations by our reporters showed that ASUU chose to keep mum on the possibility of another because the matter was still in the court.

A source within the NEC of ASUU explained to our pressman
that the union consulted with its legal counsel who encouraged the body to stay for the decision of the court.
“ You know the case is still in court, we haven’t been called back yet. The former strike was suspended grounded on court order, if we decide to go on strike, the minister may use that occasion to say they want to interdict ASUU. There are lots of court cases on ground formerly. We need the court to settle it formerly and for all. Our hands are tied. Only the court can rule. The minister knows this and that’s why he’s acting this way. ”

All branches to meet this week
Due to the partial payment extremity that led to the exigency meeting of ASUU- NEC, all branches of the union will be meeting on different days throughout this week to brief their members.

The ASUU Chairman, Obafemi Awolowo University,Dr. Adeola Egbedokun, stated that the ASUU OAU branch would meet on Wednesday for its branch congress to assay and bandy the judgments of the NEC meeting.
Also, a member of ASUU University of Lagos,Prof. Poju Tejumaiye, told our pressman
that the UNILAG branch would meet on Thursday.

“ There wo n’t be strike action. Everybody is trying to avoid the foolishness of Ngige. We do n’t want to play into his hands. We’ll continue with our lectures while discussion also continues. Because of Gbajabiamila, we will stay for the father of the nation to respond, but I know my people wo n’t stay endlessly, ” he said.