In the midst of the seven-month strike, the Academic Staff Union of Universities on Monday rejected summons from university administration ordering students to attend classes.
The organization claimed that because those institutions were still secured, its strike was unaffected.
Dr. Chris Piwuna, ASUU’s vice president and former branch chairman at the University of Jos, made these remarks.
He was responding to Ralph Njoku, the Imo State University, Owerri’s public relations officer, who had announced that the university had left the ASUU nationwide strike and had instructed both students and staff to go to class on Tuesday, September 20, despite the university’s decision.
He claimed that IMSU had made the decision to pull out of the ongoing strike in the best interests of the school’s students and employees.
“Yes. It is true. We have asked students to resume immediately. Lectures start on Tuesday. We are doing this in the best interest of our students and staff. We are not only pulling out of the ASUU strike but also asking everyone to return to school,” he said.
However, Piwuna made light of the universities, claiming that ASUU will not be moved.
He said, “I don’t know why these people will never learn their lesson. Is the PRO of the University a member of our union? Does he have the mandate to speak for our members? Did we consult with him or his VC (Vice Chancellor) before we embarked on the action? They are incurable interlopers.
“Let us hear from our branch chairperson. Let them not waste the time of our students and parents.
“They said the same thing about Gombe State University, Yobe State University, Kaduna State University and the rest. Those institutions are still under lock and key. Our strike is unshakeable .
“Our members remain resilient and single minded about our overall goal to rescue our public Universities from the clutches of the neo-liberal, neo-colonialist.”
