ASUU remains adamant, says strike not politically motivated

 

Contrary to popular views that the ongoing ASUU strike was motivated politically, the Academic body(ASUU) has said otherwise, denying that it’s ongoing protest has any political link.

The Calabar Zonal Coordinator of the Union, Dr. Charles Ononuju, debunked this view in 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 buttressed that the strike was aimed at transforming the University sector for the good of Nigerian students.

Restating the union’s commitment to ensure that change sets into the nation’s university, he said the union had rejected the offer of N130 billion made to the Pro-Chancellors and Vice Chancellors of universities by the Federal Government.

He said the way and manner money is been release by the Federal Government was contrary to the 2009 agreement as well as the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal government and ASUU.

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.

At the briefing were 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.