“ASUU Must Not End Strike Unless FG Meets Their Demands”

The Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association has urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities not to end its ongoing strike which started on July 1, 2013 unless its demands are met by the Federal Government. Chairman of the branch, Mr. Monday Ubani, at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, said the union should stick to its demands to avoid the need for embarking on another round of strike action in few months time.

The demands of the university teachers include the N87bn which the Federal Government agreed to pay to them in 2009 as arrears of their earned allowances.

Ubani, while fielding questions from journalists, said, “I will like ASUU not to call off the strike for now so that this issue can be addressed once and for all. “They should not renege on the agreement and call off the strike only to embark on another one again in the next few months.”

Ubani, who addressed the press alongside other members of his executive council, said the strike was a blow to the educational system and that it was caused by the Federal Government’s misplaced priorities. He said, “We are confused with the priorities of this government. While they said they have no money to rescue our educational sector, they are busy buying another jet to add to the fleet jet already owned by the Presidency and organising jamboree of high class women in Abuja with millions of naira.”