ASUU Declares Indefinite Strike, TUC Backs Out

 May 18, 2016 dombobbie  0 Comment

Olumide Aduloju writes

 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared an indefinite strike in protest against the federal government’s decision to cancel fuel subsidy and the resultant hike in fuel pump price.

Daily Post reports that the National President of the union, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, while declaring the strike action, insists the government should revert the oil price to N86 per litre.

The letter sent to members of the congress nationwide was read at the University of Ibadan Chapter, where the Chairman, Dr Deji Omole mobilized members to get ready for mass resistance to what he called the obnoxious and callous policy of fuel price increment.

According to Omole, the policy of subsidy removal was the most criminal ambush from the Mohammadu Buhari-led federal government to empower the rich and cripple the poor.

‎ASUU president in the letter entitled “Increase in Pump price of Premium Motor Spirit to N145 perlitre: Proposal for Joint Action with NLC stated that ASUU members are called upon to according to our Union’s principles, fully respect Article 2 of the Constitution of ASUU; that our Union and members shall work for the protection and advancement of the socio-economic interests of the nation. Branch Chairpersons are to conduct emergency congress meetings on Tuesday 17 May 2016 to mobilise our members for the action commencing on Wednesday. All branches of ASUU nationwide are to comply”.

Ogunyemi anchored the position on “delayed, partially paid and in most cases unpaid salaries for a number of months by state, federal and local governments, disguised retrenchment of workers, especially by State Governments, in the name of verification exercise and endless hunt for ghost workers and heavy taxation”.

Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, has dissociated itself from any strike embarked upon by the organised Labour, Daily Post is reporting.

Its President, Bobboi Kaigama who confirmed this to Daily Post on Wednesday morning, said “TUC is not on strike”.

The Sheet