ASUU Strike: Asefon Must Stop Embarrassing Nigerian Students, We Stand With The ASUU/FGN 2009 Agreements —TIB

By Daniel Dafe

A group, Take-It-Back Movement (Student Wing) has condemned the reaction of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to the one-month warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over issues bordering on their welfare and the state of the university education system in the country.

TIB said this in a statement on Tuesday, signed by Damilare Adenola, National Coordinator.

Recall that NANS president, Sunday Asefon in response to the 1 month industrial action, had threatened to mobilize students against the lecturer’s union for taking what TIB described as “a progressive stance in the interest of public education.”

TIB said: “As a pro-student organization, we wish to describe the statement as anti-student, anti-workers and a total embarrassment to Nigerian students, and our right to a well funded public education.

“Take It Back Movement student wing stands strongly with 2009 FG/ASUU agreement, the essence of which was: (i) To reverse the decay in the University System, in order to reposition it for greater responsibilities in national development; (ii) To reverse the brain drain, not only by enhancing the remuneration of academic staff, but also by disengaging them from the encumbrances of a unified civil service wage structure; (iii) To restore Nigerian Universities, through immediate, massive and sustained financial intervention; and, (iv) To ensure genuine university autonomy and academic freedom.

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“Although, as apt as the 1 month warning strike action may be, it is our opinion that ASUU must follow it up with direct actions such as protests and picketing in order to further intensify the current pressure on the Federal government. Whereas the lecturer’s union must not look away from the strength of solidarity waiting to be harnessed from the students’ populace.”

“It is in line with the foregoing that we urge the entirety of Nigerian students to look beyond government propaganda against the strike action and pitch their tent with the ASUU’s public education revitalization struggle for which they are its greatest beneficiary,” the group added.

According to the statement, “it was with sadness, although not surprising, that we received the news of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) effecting a 1 month warning strike in order to force the Federal government to honor their previous agreements.”