Strike: ACF begs FG, ASUU to hasten negotiation

Prof. Festus Iyayi

THE Pan Northern socio-political group, Arewa Consultative Forum, has advised the Federal Government to reconsider the ultimatum issued to the Academic Staff Union of Universities to call of its five-month-old strike.

The government had given a seven-day ultimatum, which expired on Wednesday, but extended it to December 9 due to the ongoing burial activities in honour of a former ASUU President, Prof. Festus Iyayi, who was killed in an accident.

The ACF, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani, on Thursday urged ASUU to hasten negotiation on the final part of its agreement with the government for a quick resumption “in the interest of the students, parents and the educational system.”

The statement read in part, “Nigerians have been told by both the Federal Government and ASUU that necessary agreements and planned actions have been completed preparatory for resumption of lectures by ASUU; and that all that remain is mere paper work needed for the agreements and planned actions to find expression.

“ACF wishes to call on ASUU to please hasten the completion of the said paper work with a view to calling off the strike forthwith in the interest of the students, parents and the educational system.

“ACF also appeals to the authority to reconsider its ultimatum to ASUU to resume lectures or be sacked.

“This is because no purpose will be served by the ultimatum at this stage when ASUU has said all that remain for calling off the strike is mere paper work.

“The ultimatum, at this stage, can only result in avoidable test of wills capable of prolonging the strike, which no one wants.”