The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said the Federal Government’s threat to implement its ‘no-work, no-pay’ policy cannot stop its ongoing strike.

The union described the policy as an “obsolete familiar threat”.

In a statement yesterday, titled: ASUU: On Government’s Threat of No-Work, No-Pay, by its Chairman of the University of Ibadan (UI) chapter, Dr Olusegun Ajiboye, said members of the union have resolved to pursue the strike.

The statement said ASUU members are using the action to defend the integrity of the university system in Nigeriaand save it from universal mockery.

Dr Ajiboye said the minimum funding requirement for public universities this year is N500 billion and not N100 billion, as being touted by the Federal Government.

The union leader added that anything short of this is unacceptable to the union.

He said the Federal Government’s N100 billion offer showed that the government “is just begging the matter”, because the money is like a drop in the ocean.

According to him, no blackmail will break the ongoing strike.

“The academics remain resolute on this struggle ,” Dr Ajiboye said.

On government’s N100 billion fund for the universities, the union leader noted that “this is just the beginning; the government is just starting”.

He added: “Going by the ASUU agreement of 2009 and theMemorandum of Agreement (MoU) signed by the Federal Government in January 2013, the minimum funding requirement for the universities as at 2013 is N500 billionand not N100 billion. Only the provision of this will meet the immediate needs of addressing the rot and decay in the public universities. Anything short of this is not acceptable to the union.

“Therefore, rather than engage in cheap blackmail and unworkable threat, the government should address the issues on the table.”

texazzpete: 100% in support of ASUU here. I've found that only people of subpar intelligence support the FG in this. We have accepted the poor state of security in Nigeria, the rampant corruption and the rising theft of crude oil in the creeks. Accepting the demise of our University system would be the last straw.

Until a situation arises where a 1st class graduate will choose lecturing over working as a cashier in Zenith Bank, this struggle must continue.

destino24: “obsolete familiar threat”

Cybertooth: Goodluck.... Bring us goodluck!

Demdem:

Good one from ASUU. I expect them to squeeze FG balls the more. The money is surely there. Our educational sector will surely see better days.

The union described the policy as an “obsolete familiar threat”.

texazzpete: 100% in support of ASUU here. I've found that only people of subpar intelligence support the FG in this. We have accepted the poor state of security in Nigeria, the rampant corruption and the rising theft of crude oil in the creeks. Accepting the demise of our University system would be the last straw.

Until a situation arises where a 1st class graduate will choose lecturing over working as a cashier in Zenith Bank, this struggle must continue.

lincolnj88: This strike is turning political....all they want is thier earned allowance nothing more...dis man is just speaking out of selfishness....just stop deceiving urself

nerodenero: Yes, you are right but I pray ASUU is not fighting of his pocket alone.NLC subsidy's strike readily comes to mind.

ASUU is used to this, no thanks to OBJ.

lincolnj88: and u dont know that the nigeria universities are the most corrupt institutions in the country......and dis is caused by the academic staff demselves....

Burger01: NOw, the loggerhead has started proper. When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. My dear grasses (students ) do engage in part-time jobs, studies, vocational trainings or preferably sit for professional exams in your respective fields rather than just idle away...

Goodluck to the elephants and goodluck to the grasses