The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)
may hold its postponed National Executive
Council (NEC) meeting on Friday to decide
whether or not to suspend the indefinite strike it
began since July 2.
A top official of ASUU, who preferred anonymity,
disclosed this to Daily Independent in a telephone
interview on Sunday.
He was, however, not certain if the NEC will still
be held at the Bayero University, Kano where it
was initially proposed to hold.
The leadership of the union postponed the
scheduled Kano NEC meeting following the
demise of one its key members, Festus Iyayi, who
died last Tuesday in a ghastly motor accident on
his way to Kano for the postponed NEC meeting.
The source noted that the union members are still
grieved and are pre-occupied with the burial
arrangement of the late Professor of Business
Administration, who died along the Abuja-Lokoja
highway in an accident caused by the convoy of
Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada.
The source debunked speculations in the social
media that ASUU has jettisoned its NEC
indefinitely, saying the union postponed the NEC
meeting as a mark of honour and respect for the
late Iyayi.
According to him, all ASUU officials that were
supposed to participate in the NEC meeting last
week Wednesday had actually gathered at the
Bayero University, Kano, but for the unfortunate
accident which claimed the life of Iyayi and
disrupted the agenda already set for the meeting.
Meanwhile, Supervisory Minister of Education,
Nyesom Wike, also at the weekend led a
delegation of government on a condolence visit to
the residence of the late academician in Benin
City.
Wike assured that the Federal Government would
diligently implement all the agreements it
reached with ASUU in the course of the
negotiations with President Goodluck Jonathan.
Those in the delegation of the minister include
Executive Secretary of the National Universities
Commission (NUC), Julius Okojie, and some top
officials of Federal Ministry of Education.
They also visited the injured ASUU National
Welfare Officer, Ngozi Iloh, who is said to be
responding to treatment at the University of
Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin.
In a statement in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister’s
Special Assistant (Media), Simeon Nwakaudu, said
Wike solicited the permission of the family to allow
the Federal Government participate in the burial
ceremony of the former ASUU president.
“President Goodluck Jonathan and the entire
administration are deeply pained by the sudden
death of the former ASUU National President who
played a key part in the negotiations between
ASUU and the Federal Government.
“We recall the significant contributions of
Professor Iyayi during the 13-hour negotiations
between President Jonathan and ASUU, which led
to a headway in the discussions.
“I want to assure the family that the ideals that
the late scholar fought and died for will never be
forgotten. The Federal Government will diligently
implement the decisions reached in the course of
negotiations with ASUU.
“The Federal Ministry of Education wishes to be a
part of the burial of this erudite scholar and we
seek the permission of the family to participate in
the burial. I pray God to grant the family the
strength to bear this unfortunate loss,” Wike was
quoted to have said.
Oriabure Iyayi, son of the late ASUU president,
was said to have thanked President Jonathan, the
Minister of Education and all Nigerians for
commiserating with the family at their moment of
grief.
A relative of the deceased, Prof. Robert Ebiwele,
informed the minister that the burial will hold
between December 5 and 9.
He assured that the family would inform the
Federal Ministry of Education on the burial
arrangements.
Source. www.osundefender.org/?p=132407

FRIDAY AGAIN!!! ASUU WHY!!! I rearrange my box everyday! All my shirts ironed! My books intact! Even if u call it off today, I'll get to skl today! I wnt add a second to my hols. O ti su mi!

I tire oh

Jobless pals

Make dey useless assu president comot tell us weiting dey ground abi him dey deaf

lawrence112: Make dey useless assu president comot tell us weiting dey ground abi him dey deaf

thank God u r refering to assu not ASUU

Abeg naso dem tell us say a sat,ASUU come out for evening say na lie,nw na on friday dem dey yan nw,ASUU go wait mk ppl dey gt hope con show for friday evening after ppl go dey expect outcome,com say na lie,ASUU ASUU you ppl r wicked ,its no more fg again cos dev done diers,bt u guys r nt still concerned.
If una no news like 'ASUU strike has been called off' no just post anytn.

tsleazy: thank God u r refering to assu not ASUU

no mind me dey strike done make me 4get hw to spell

They should call-off d strike so dat student can pay dia last respect to d nice former president of ASUU.