Union of Universities (ASUU), who voted against ending the
four-months-old strike, says it will resume classes if directed
by the national body.
"Yes, the local ASUU chapter voted 159 to 88 against ending
the strike at its congress on Monday, but we shall abide by
any decision taken by the national body on Wednesday,'' its
Chairman, Dr. David Jangdam, said in Jos on Tuesday.
ASUU's central body is expected to meet in Kano on
Wednesday to take a final decision on whether or not to end
the strike after collating resolutions from various local
branches who considered the offer by President Goodluck
Jonathan during their congresses on Monday.
Jonathan had made the offers toward ending the strike during
a meeting with the striking lecturers who are seeking better
funding for the universities and improved welfare packages
for the teaching staff.
Jangdam said in Jos that the decision of the national body was
final and binding on all local chapters.
"Even the strike was not supported by all the universities.
Many local chapters of ASUU opposed it, but majority
wanted it and we embarked on it,'' he said.
He explained that ASUU's decisions were usually from
bottom-to-top with representatives at meetings having to
revert to the local branches before any decision would be
taken.
Jangdam, however, rejected suggestions that the local
branch's position was influenced by the internal disagreement
with management over the conduct of the post-UTME
examinations during the strike.
ASUU had condemned that action, and declared that the
examinations were "illegal, wasteful and of no effect''.
"At the congress meeting yesterday, we made it clear that no
local issue will be discussed.
"Our focus was solely on the issues related to the national
strike. Other local disagreements shall be tackled locally and
therefore had no effect on our stance yesterday,'' he said.
He said that the lecturers voted against ending the strike
because they did not trust the federal government to fulfill its
promises and therefore wanted something concrete to be seen
on ground before resuming classes.
Jangdam also rejected suggestions that the lecturers had not
been fair to university education in the country.
"I think the questions should be if the system is fair to the
educational sector; Nigerians should ask the leaders why the
educational sector is usually the least in their priorities,'' he
said.
He said that it was wrong for Nigerians to blame the lecturers
for the bad situation in the universities, saying that the search
light should rather be on those in authority that decided what
should go to the ivory towers at budget planning sessions.
"Sometimes, I find the situation a bit perplexing; I wonder
why should Nigerians complain about poor quality of
graduates and heap the blame on the universities and the
lecturers even when they know that not much attention is paid
to the educational sector?,'' he asked.
Via: NAN
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