ASUU strike not politically motivated, don says

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says the current nationwide strike by the union is not politically motivated.

The Zonal Coordinator of the union in charge of Calabar Zone, Charles Ononuju, made the clarification at a news conference on Tuesday in Umuahia.

‘’We wish to emphasise strongly that our struggle has no political undertone as being falsely and mischievously propagated, those saying otherwise are being economical with the truth.

“No amount of blackmail will make the union jettison our resolve to get the government implement the 2009 agreement and MoU of January 24, 2012,” he said.

He said that the unions’ position was for the proper funding of education because Nigerians deserved quality education.

Mr. Ononuju described the insinuation as part of the misinformation intended at causing disaffection.

He said that the union had rejected the offer of N130 billion made to the Pro-Chancellors and Vice Chancellors of universities by the Federal Government.

The zonal coordinator said that the arbitrary release of money by the Federal Government negated the 2009 agreement as well as the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding.

Mr. Ononuju urged the Federal Government to honour the 2009 agreement it freely entered into with the union, adding that the union was not making fresh demands.

He said the union was not insensitive to the plight of students and parents but that the strike was meant to salvage public education through proper funding.

The briefing was attended by the chairman of ASUU in MOUAU, Uzochukwu Onyebinama, and James Okpiliya of the University of Calabar.

Other members present at the news conference were Nwachukwu Anyim of the University of Uyo and Nsing Ogar of the Cross River State University of Technology.

ASUU has been on strike since July 1.

(NAN)