Earlier in the week, Nigerians were
optimistic that after the National
Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the
Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) meeting scheduled for
Wednesday, the four-month-old strike
embarked upon by the union would be
called off, but the unfortunate demise of
Professor Festus Iyayi, a former
president of ASUU just barely 24 hours
to the meeting again dashed the hopes of
parents, students and other
stakeholders. Michael Oche writes on the
latest incident and its effect on
students
Every effort to make ASUU call off its
four-month-old strike had failed to yield
positive results. Not even an intervention
by the Vice President, Arc. Namadi
Sambo could make the union change its
mind. Even a N200 billion promised by the
federal government was rejected by the
union. They insisted that the government
honour the 2009 agreement it entered
with the union.
The 2009 agreement entailed that the
federal government provide N1.3 trillion
in a space of four years to improve
infrastructures in the 61 federal
universities across the country. By 2012,
the government was expected to have
released N100 billion and N400 billion in
2013. Informed sources said this was
actually why the union refused to accept
the N200 billion earlier promised the
union by the government.
However, after several breakdown in
negotiations, President Goodluck
Jonathan stepped in and offered the
union a new agreement which stipulates
that the government will inject N1.1
trillion in a space of five years into the
university system.
Though, inside sources said many ASUU
officials were not really pleased with the
new agreement because they felt
government also failed to keep the 2009
agreement and were skeptical of
government sincerity, Professor Festus
Iyayi, a former president of ASUU urged
his fellow comrades to at least give the
government the benefit of the doubt and
call off the strike.
After the meeting, and heeding to the
advice of the former president, the
current ASUU president, Dr Nasir Fagge
promised to take the offer to his
colleagues.
By Monday, all the various congresses of
ASUU met in their various locations and
deliberated on the protracted strike and
the general consensus was that the NEC
would meet on Wednesday where a final
decision would be taken.
Hence, there was a glimmer of hope that
the strike would be called off after the
NEC meeting. But none of the students or
parents saw it coming. Most parents were
beginning to give a sigh of relief and even
president Jonathan would have been
relieved that finally, he was able to put
an end to a strike that has lasted four
months and was almost turning into an
embarrassment to his administration.
Like every Nigerian who meant well for
the university system, Iyayi was on his
way to Kano to attend the NEC meeting
when the bus he was travelling in was
involved in an accident with the convoy of
the Kogi state governor.
Immediately the news of his death went
to town, ASUU suspended the planned
NEC meeting, thereby dashing any hope
of calling off the strike.
For now, none of the ASUU officials has
spoken on when the NEC meeting would be
convened.
Acknowledging the role of the late Iyayi,
NLC president, Abdulwaheed Omar said,
“He died in service because he was on his
way to Kano for the ASUU NEC meeting
and one could recall the role he played in
our meeting with President Goodluck
Jonathan last week as regarding the
suspension of the strike.”
He said further, “Iyayi died on his way to
Kano to attend a meeting as part of the
process of finding an enduring solution to
the ASUU strike. Others who were
traveling with him are lying critically ill at
the hospital.
“Professor Iyayi’s death is not only a blow
to ASUU and the Congress; it is a blow to
the entire country to which he committed
his entire life.
“Iyayi was an activist to the core, often
deploying his prodigious energy and
intellectual prowess to the cause. As
President of the Academic Staff Union
in 1986, he set the tone and pace of
ASUU protests, in spite of the
overbearing military government. It
certainly must be in appreciation of this
that the executive of ASUU, had always
thought if fit to involve him in
negotiations.”
Some reports have quoted family sources
as saying the burial of the former
President of Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU), has been
tentatively fixed for first week of
December.
Some parents and students, who spoke
with LEADERSHIP Sunday, said that the
suspension of the meeting might lead to
further elongation of the strike by
university lecturers. They described the
latest development as disheartening and
devastating.
“It’s my hope that his death will spur
ASUU leadership to honour him by
finding a lasting solution to the strike
even as I urge all those who are alive to
do all they could with steadfastness and
courage,” a parent, Chidi Amaka said.
Mike Odia, another parent, said that the
new development had dashed the hope of
parents, students and many Nigerians for
a resolution of the action.
“As a parent, I feel very worried about
this new development. Over four months
down the line, we thought we were getting
to the end of the strike until this
unfortunate accident that claimed the
professor’s life.
“We were happy when the president
waded in and made a promise to the
ASUU national leaders and they said
they were going to study the offer. We
thought this would have brought the
strike to an end.
“But with this development, they have
suspended their NEC meeting and one is
not sure if the end is in sight.
“We only hope and pray that goodwill will
prevail on the ASUU leadership to have a
re-think while we commiserate with the
families of the late professor,” Odia said.
A student, Stella Adeyemi, said that she
had expected that by next week she
would be returning to the campus.
“I am very sad about this happening. I am
a final year student and we do not know
what the fate of those of us that are in
public universities are at the moment.
“We pray that as ASUU members reflect
on the loss of Iyayi, they should also
reflect on the over four-month-old
strike”.
Another student, Ify Samuel, said that it
was sad that ASUU lost one of its strong
members, adding that the union was right
in suspending the meeting.
She, however, called on the union to take
immediate steps to call off the strike
after the mourning period.


leadership.ng/news/171113/how-iyayi-s-death-dashed-students-hope-quick-end-ASUU-strike

It's true. I saw their tweet too. Let's wait patiently for that.

Even if the twitter handle is anything to go by as regards to its authenticity. "Soon" no dey finish for this people mouth, "how soon is soon" if I may ask. And the soon may even be next year, and the result of the soon will read "Please we the members of ASUU have decided not to call off the strike due to the implausible nature of FGN agreement reached on November last year, please we are sorry for any inconvenience we might have caused to members of the public".

Signed
Management On behalf of ASUU.