ASUP Preparing to Resume Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) announced the decision to suspend the nationwide strike on July 16, 2013. Unfortunately, it has just been a pause.ASUP is gearing for another industrial action, which would commence after next week, and would be indefinite.The union made the appropriate statement on August 13, 2013, Tuesday during the mass protest to'save public education'in Lagos."The suspension of the strike will expire next week and up till now government has not done any single thing in the agreement," said Chibuzo Asomugha, ASUP's National President.After 81 days of inactivity in polytechnics across Nigeria, the union decided to suspend the strike following the level of progress made in negotiations with the government.ASUP said that it suspended the strike to allow the Senate Joint Committee on Education to liaise with relevant government agencies with a view to tackling the union's demands within one month.Among ASUP's demands include the need for constitution of the Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics; migration of the lower cadre to CONTISS 15 salary scale; and the "worrisome condition" of state-owned polytechnics in the country."Government should stop paying lip service to public education," said Mr. Asomugha. "The closer you get to this people in government, the more you lose hope."whats wrong with this our govt?

ASUU Strike: Activists Ask Jonathan To Sack Okonjo-Iweala

A group of activists under the aegis of Anti-Corruption Networkhave called on PresidentGoodluck Jonathan to sack the minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, without further delay.The group, which spoke through its director of outreach services, Mr Timi Frank, during a press conference in Abuja yesterday , also threatened to mobilise students and youth against the federal and state governments if they refuse to take urgent steps to end the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).Reacting to media reports credited to Okonjo -Iweala that the federal government does not have the N92billion demanded byASUU, the activists gave an ultimatum to the federal and states’ ministries of Education to release the said money or face the wrathof youths and students across the states who will take over premises of the education ministries.....we are prepared for that,okonjo nwela graduated with her first daughter from Harvard university so she don't how it is schooling in Nigeria...

ASUU Strike: FG, ASUU Continue Negotiations

Another round of discussions and negotiations between Federal Government’s NEEDS assessment committee and theAcademic Staff Union of Universities has begun in the Federal Capital Territory.In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the committee, Governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue state expressed hope that the two bodies will reach an agreement and suspend the industrial action.However, the president of ASUU, Dr.Nasir Fagge said the union is opened to discussions on the funding of the education sector in Nigeria.It would be recalled that talks between both parties has hit birk walls severally with the recent one earlier in the month, as Professor Nasir Faggae vowed that the union would not succumb to any pressure to call off its six weeks old strike if all its demands are not met by the government.Mr. Fagge told journalists in Abuja that although negotiations have continued, there’s nothing yet on thetable. He said the union remains resolute in sustaining the ongoing strike action to ensure that the topical issues affecting the nation’s university system are tackled decisively once and for all.However, the chairman of the NeedsAssessment Committee of the Nigerian Universities, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state saysthe public holidays have stalled the smooth progress made so far, but ifall goes according to plan, the strikemay be called off next week and also assured Nigerians that the industrial dispute will be resolved.The President of ASUU, Professor Nasir Faggae was not under pressure to call off the strike,as he insisted that the union is resolute in sustaining the ongoing strike action if the issues in contention are not met.