ASUU accuses Federal Government of violating new agreement

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has flayed the Federal Government and expressed concern over what it called foot-dragging in the implementation of the new Memorandum of Understanding reached with it.

The union also condemned the sack of over 90 staff of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan just as it called on the Federal Government and the masses to rise against the intimidation of the oppressed in the institution.


These were the positions canvassed by the National Treasurer of ASUU, Dr Ademola Aremu and Chairman of University of Ibadan chapter of the union, Dr Olusegun Ajiboye, during a programme tagged ‘ASUU/Press Media parley’ at the Postgraduate School of the premier university.

Dr Aremu said it was becoming disturbing to the union that despite signing papers and calling off the strike, allocation of the funds claimed to have been deposited at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for execution of needs project of Nigerian universities was yet to commence two months into 2014.

According to the national officer of ASUU, the Federal Government ought to have commenced the process of depositing an additional N55 billion for the first quarter as agreed in the agreement with President Jonathan.

Aremu said nothing had been practically implemented by the government beyond paper commitments made and signed with it, apart from the non-victimisation of those who participated in the strike.

Dr Ajiboye said said students were yet to benefit anything from the last strike owing to foot dragging in the course of implementation, as all universities remain the same prior to the strike.

He said ASUU was tired of ‘earmarking of the funds but now needs eye-marking of it with visible projects executed with the funds.’

Ajiboye, who commended the press for the gallant role they played during the six-month old strike, asked the pen pushers to beam searchlight on universities to ask questions about execution of projects arising from the strike.

He asked the Federal Government not to delay implementation, as such might breed further acrimony within the university system.

He, while condemning the sack of over 90 workers at CRIN, Ibadan, urged all well-meaning Nigerians to rise and defend alleged injustice being meted out on the oppressed people within CRIN system.