Those who pulled out of strike will regret it – ASUU

Since the Academic Staff Union of Universities commenced its nationwide strike on November 5 , 2018 , at least six universities have pulled out of it and opened their doors to students .When our correspondent contacted the ASUU President , Prof . Biodun Ogunyemi , for his reaction to the development and the perceived disunity in the union ’ s ranks , he said the institutions that pulled out of the strike due to pressure from their vice – chancellors , or governing councils , would regret their actions in the future .

Ogunyemi said , “ Those universities perceived as pulling out are certainly not against what we are asking for. Our members are in institutions like the Obafemi Awolowo University , which decided to work against us and deliberately sabotaged our efforts to reposition the universities .

“ Those who said they do not agree with us are not against the funds for revitalisation that we are demanding . They are not against academic allowances or the payments of shortfalls that we ask for . They are not against fixing our universities .

“ A lot of factors have to be considered when we talk about some universities pulling out . It is not that they actually mean to do so. Some intervening forces or variables may be at work . There are cases where vice – chancellors are overzealous , although they will be the greatest beneficiaries of what we are asking for . Some institutions were compelled by their governing councils to resume academic activities . In other situations , some governors or vice – chancellors deliberately created problems for us .

“ Those vice – chancellors usually end up regretting their activities , but that does not stop us from resorting to our in – house procedure in dealing with chapters that pull out of national strikes . They will all be subjected to our in -house procedures . ”

Ogunyemi also said that 90 per cent of the union ’ s members were still in support of the strike and they were not bothered about chapters that pulled out .

“ Over 90 per cent of our members are still together and that is good enough for us because what we are doing now is a movement and those who fail to participate will regret their actions . They know that when the Federal Government releases funds for revitalisation , all public universities will be covered. The conscience of those who refused to participate in the strike will continue to prick them . Those who sabotaged us will have a moral burden and that is what we have always told them .
“ If you go to state universities , many of the new projects you will see are technically being funded with capital funds from grants coming from NEEDs assessment and TETFund . If such universities are being forced to pull out , you will know that it is always against the wish of our members . We are not bothered , ” he said .

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