ASUU strike: FG backtracks on 'back to class' deadline

The Federal Government has backtracked on the deadline given to members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resume work of face sack.

President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier at the weekend distanced himself from the deadline, saying it was the National Universities Commission that gave the ultimatum and that the supersory minister for Education, Nyesom Wike, only pronounced the decision of the commission.

However, the NUC announced Tuesday that it had extended the deadline to December 9.

The  striking university lecturers were given December 4 deadline to  go 'Back to Class' or face being sacked.

With the deadline extended to December 9, lecturers are no longer expected to resume duties as required by the seven-day ultimatum issued by the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, on November 28.

The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okogie, told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday that the ultimatum had been shifted to enable the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) carry out the burial ceremony of Professor Festus Iyayi, a former leader of the union who died in the line of duty.

In a bid to lay to rest the issue of non-victimisation that the striking lecturers had stressed in a letter to the government before the ultimatum was issued, the NUC boss stated that all lecturers, who would resume duties and ready to work on December 9 would be paid their full salary arrears.

The public universities' lecturers have not been paid since they embarked on a nationwide strike on July 1. They have, by invoking the non-victimisation clause,  demanded that all the arrears must be paid.

He, however, pointed out that the leadership of ASUU, at the end of its meeting with the president on November 4, had agreed to call off the strike after several resolutions were reached which did not include the new conditions recently released by the union.

The union said it did not add any new condition but only emphasised the non-victimisation clause, which states that no member of the union should be punished for being part of the ongoing strike.

It claims the government was aware of the clause and called for the payment of the salary arrears.

It has also insisted that the government deposit the N200 billion  revitalisation fund for public universities as agreed with the Central Bank of Nigeria, before the strike would be called off

. Meanwhile, the  Lagos State University (LASU) branch of ASUU, on Tuesday indicated it would continue on the ongoing strike until otherwise directed by the national leadership of the union.

The Chairman of the branch, Dr Idris Adekunle, who announced this at a news conference in Lagos, said the LASU branch of ASUU had resolved to continue with the indefinite strike.

According to him it has  also resolved not to sign any register if the university's management decides to open any.

'The Congress unanimously resolves that if for any reason the management opens any register, no member of ASUU shall sign such. ASUU, particularly LASU chapter, is as solid as ever and will not be moved by any threat.

'We are not having serious problems with the management because we have been educating them on the developments'', he said.

Adekunle said that the lecturers had also resolved not to attend the academic meeting called by the Governing Council of LASU.

'ASUU LASU resolves that no member shall attend the meeting called by the LASU Governing Council because we are still on strike'', he said.

On the reopening of some universities, the chairman said it was 'mere propaganda' as they were not closed in the first instance.

'University gates have never been closed since the strike started because research work and community service have been going on.b We have been working, but only suspended the teaching aspect, we still do our research and community service,'' he said.