By Atoyebi Nike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has criticised the Federal Government’s late attempt to stop its planned warning strike, describing the intervention as “a little too late.”
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, made this known on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, accusing the government of failing to act on its demands in good time.
Piwuna said the union gave the government three weeks to address outstanding issues after a meeting in Sokoto but received no communication during the period. He noted that it was only two working days before the strike that officials appealed for suspension.
“Our 2009 agreement which is still being renegotiated after eight years remains undone. Two working days before a strike action, you come to appeal to us. I think the appeal has come a little too late,” he stated.
The ASUU leader added that the union would proceed with its planned two-week warning strike starting October 13 if the government fails to provide “something substantial” before the ultimatum expires on Sunday.
On Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the government was in the final phase of talks with ASUU and other unions to resolve disputes over welfare, funding, and implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
