ASUU strike: Media reports orchestrated; FG added no dime, no improvement – Union

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused theFederal Government of sponsoring media campaign to force it to end the ongoing industrial action.According to the union, its indefinite strike which started on July 2, still stands, irrespective of the move by government to discredit its leadership.Chairman of ASUU, University of Abuja chapter, Clement Chup, had on Sunday in an interview with DailyIndependent, also denied a purported meeting at the State House, Abuja, with Vice President Namadi Sambo, where it was claimed that government further shifted grounds on the demands of the Union.An online news medium had reported that there was an appreciable progress in the ongoing negotiations between ASUU and the Vice President, particularly on the controversial earned allowances for the striking lecturers.In the report, government was alleged to have further shifted ground on the demands made by the Union, by agreeing to add N10 billion to the N30 billion initially provided for the settlement of earned allowances, making it N40 billion.It was also reported that government had shored up the N100 billion meant for infrastructure to N150 billion with apledge to periodically inject more funds into the system in line with the Needs Implementation Committee chaired by Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswan.Chup in his reaction, said “I read the mischievous report online myself, but I am telling you authoritatively that there was no such meeting.“Government is only trying to use propaganda and cheap blackmail tomake us call off this strike, but it will not work.“Our strike is still very much on course, in fact, ASUU will soon release a position paper on these developments, we are used to this kind of blackmail from government,” Chup said.On his part, Chairman of the Ambrose Alli University chapter of ASUU, Fred Esumeh, attributed the strike to failed leadership on the part of government, saying over 53 letters urging government to implement the 2009 agreement were transmitted prior to the strike.“As I keep saying, this strike is a product of failed leadership on the part of government; this is because we had series of dialogue to reach an agreement.“An agreement reached since 2009 that has not been implemented up till now, obviously it is a product of failed leadership, before this time that we commenced strike, there have been over 53 letters, not to talk of several meetings with the House and Senate committees on education to intervene.“I do not think ASUU is loosing public sympathy, because what we see in our electronic media and perhaps few print media is sponsored protest.“Like the one organised by the market women, that one is laughable, you could see that it is government sponsored.“Then of course, the guy that parades himself as NANS President,Yinka Gbadebo, a diploma student in OAU, who was rusticated from Ekiti State University.“A diploma student cannot even contest to be an SUG president and to be a NANS president, you must be from SUG presidents all over thefederation, so we know these people are sponsored by government,” Esumeh said....source-dailypost

ASUU strike: UNIABUJA student attempts suicide, says it was a better option

The ongoing strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU took a different turn on Saturday at the Dutse-Alhaji area of Abuja when a female student of the University of Abuja made to hang herself in protest of the nearly four months old strike.The female student identified as Jane Okoro had already hanged herself, but fell off theceiling while struggling, apparently because the rope she used was not strong enough.Jane had sent her two youngerbrothers on an errand, just a way of sending them out of the house to be able to carry out the abominable act, but one of the brothers returned after 15 minutes and saw her on the floor with a rope tied round her neck while another rope dangled from the ceiling fan. The 15 year old boy raised the alarm, thinking thathis sister was dead, attracting neighbours and other onlookers into their compound. However, it was discovered by those who got there first, that Jane was alive as it was only a suicide attempt.The boy, who was identified as Andrew had told our correspondent that the sister was behaving so strange throughout that morning. He said, ” She was to go to the market with my mum, but said she was not feeling too well. While we were at home with her, she refused to talk. She was always on her Blackberry. Shortly after she had her bath, she sent us to First-Gate (market), but I left some money I wanted to use to buy my personal stuff at home, so upon return, I saw her on the floor of our parlour. I even thought she was dead, so I shouted.”Meanwhile, the mother who returned from the market immediately after the news got to her had told our correspondent in tears that, her daughter must have attempted to commit suicide because of the ongoing ASUU strike. She said, I will ask her questions on why she wanted to do this to us. She has been complaining to me about this ASUU strike. She said, at her age, she should have been done with school, and begin to take care of the children and I. Her father is late. I know that only this week, she had complained to me up to 6times on how frustrating this strike has been. I know other things may have contributed, but ASUU strike may have contributed the most; but for whatever reason, it was devilish for my daughter to have attempted suicide.” She said.Asked what she was going to do about the situation, she said ” I will take her to my Pastor this evening. She needsprayers. We need somebody to talk to her. God will do the miracle for me. I didn’t do anything to anybody. I must not suffer for nothing. She is already in her third year in school. What would I have done if this had happened?”Attempt to speak with Jane failed as she could not respond to questions from our correspondent. The only statement she muttered was ” It was a better option”.The mother had later asked our correspondent to leave her to rest. She said ” she will talk to you after we see our Pastor. She will give the testimony herself.”However, a female friend of Jane who had pleaded not to be mentioned showed our correspondent her recent conversation with Jane on her Blackberry. She said ” my last chat with her was on this very ASUU strike. See what she posted, ” I tire for these ASUU peopleoooo” She showed our correspondent the chat.