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Indefinite Strike Will Continue If…, ASUU Warns FG
The chairman of the Academic Staff Union of the Universities, ASUU, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, Comrade Christian Opata, and his counterpart at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Prof. Chinedu Aguba, have insisted that the Union is not cowed by the “no work, no pay” threat by the Federal Government.
The duo spoke after ASUU Congress at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, UNEC, on Wednesday, insisting that the industrial action embarked upon by the members of the Union since February 14, 2022, would continue indefinitely if the Federal Government refuses to attend to all the contentious issues which led to the strike action.
The ASUU chairpersons also said that the Federal Government lacks the legal right to recognize the Congress of University Academics, CONUA, which is wooing it to substitute ASUU, adding that the Union would equally wage legal war with the government should it consider the option of proscription.
“Nigerians who have been listening to the media propaganda waged by the Federal Government maybe carried away by such propaganda. ASUU has tried all it can to resolve the issues leading to the ongoing strike action, but the Federal Government is also doing all it can to scuttle the efforts of the Union. Be that as it may, one thing that is pertinent is that truth cannot be hidden, if you bury it today, it will germinate tomorrow.
“Our bone of contention with the government of Nigeria is that a government signed an agreement with the Union as far back as 2019 and that agreement has been reneged on consistently and persistently by the same government. The government has been paying deaf ear each time the Union called for renegotiation of the agreement and it has also toyed with the reports of all the committees set up to find lasting solutions to recurrent ASUU strikes in Nigeria.
“Yet, we are talking of the education sector which drives the economy. The question is, how do we as a nation move forward? The principle of collective bargaining is no longer there, respect for negotiated agreement is equally no longer there.
“Some students may think that ASUU is no longer fighting for them but that is not true. The truth is that there is gross dilapidated and insufficient facilities across the federal universities. A classroom made for 50 students are being occupied by 300 of them now and hostels are equally insufficient. We see students standing up or hanging by the windows to take notes during lectures. What kind of education does Federal Government want those students to receive in today’s global competitive world?” Comrade Opata queried the Federal Government.
He expressed surprise that the federal government is foot-draghing in adopting UTAS which it asked members of his Union to develop, adding that UTAS which is a homegrown technology would sustain national development more than any foreign application.
Comrade Opata equally said that the Federal Government was preaching anarchy in Nigeria by saying that it would not pay ASUU members their outstanding six months salaries, adding that members of his Union would not attend to backlog of works accumulated during the strike action and many students may not graduate. “Federal Government said no work, no pay. ASUU can go back to classroom and refuse to attend to the backlog of works which accumulated during the strike. What it means is that many students will not graduate. Can government contain our students assuming ASUU refuse to graduate them? Is that not unleashing anarchy on the nation? We don’t want anarchy to join the security problems we are handling in Nigeria,” he said.
Similarly, Prof. Aguba of ESUT who represented the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU accused the Federal Government of being insensitive to the education sector. He insisted that ASUU would continue on the strike action until the government fulfill all the agreements it reached with the Union.
He said that ASUU would cling on legal fireworks to fight the Federal Government should it take the option of proscribing the Union. ” We are equally tired of living under slave wages,” he also said.
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OsunDecides2026: ‘Protect our votes, respect our mandate,’ Adeleke urges Tinubu, security operatives
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct security agencies deployed for the governorship election to protect the integrity of the electoral process as collation of results begins.
Adeleke made the appeal in a post on X on Saturday evening, expressing concern over alleged attempts to disrupt or hijack collation centres across the state.
Addressing Tinubu, the governor said, “It is imperative that you use your good office to issue a clear warning to the heads of security agencies deployed to protect the good people of Osun State and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.”
He said reports of alleged attempts to disrupt collation centres by politicians were “deeply concerning and unacceptable,” given the number of security personnel deployed for the election.
Adeleke urged the President to reiterate his commitment to ensuring that votes cast by Osun residents count and that the final outcome reflects their choice.
“I therefore implore you to reiterate the commitment made to the people of Osun State that their votes will count and that the outcome of this election will reflect their genuine choice,” he said.
The governor specifically called on the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigerian Army and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to adhere to the directive, while urging that the Independent National Electoral Commission receive the necessary support to complete the process.
“The Nigeria Police, DSS, Nigerian Army, NSCDC and other security agencies must strictly adhere to this directive, while INEC must be given every necessary support to conclude the process and deliver a credible and transparent outcome,” Adeleke said.
He added, “The people of Osun State have spoken with one voice, and their voices must be heard. Their votes must be protected, and their mandate must be respected.”
Adeleke also commended voters for turning out for the election and urged security agencies to remain vigilant as results move from polling units to wards and local government collation centres.
“Against all odds, the people of Osun State have turned out in large numbers and are speaking with one voice. The safety and protection of our people is paramount,” he said.
“I commend the security agencies deployed for this election and urge them to remain vigilant as we move into the collation of results; from polling units to wards to local government areas.”
The governor further called on INEC to maintain high standards throughout the collation process.
“I also call on INEC to uphold the highest standards of integrity throughout this process,” he said.
Nigerian musician, David Adeleka, also known as Davido has asked President Bola Tinubu to call members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to order.
Davido made the call in a post on his verified X handle on Saturday as sorting and announcement of election results were ongoing.
His call stemmed from the allegation that ‘thugs’ of the Osun State Chapter of the APC stormed GOF junction, Osogbo the state capital to disrupt Ward 4 and 5 election results.
“Mr President, call your people to order. Osun APC thugs have invaded GOF junction, Osogbo to disrupt Ward 4 and 5 results.
“They have seen defeat and they are now trying to destroy ballot papers and boxes. Osogbo people will resist them.
“They want to start attacking everywhere. Osun people, mount your votes,” he tweeted.
The Accord Party has secured victory at the polling unit of former Osun State Deputy Governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore, in the ongoing governorship election.
Results published on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Result Viewing Portal, IReV, showed that Accord polled 131 votes at Polling Unit 003, Ife Ward 1, Moore, St. Gabriel Primary School, Ife East Local Government Area.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, came second with 85 votes, while the African Democratic Congress, ADC, received 10 votes. Other political parties recorded only marginal votes.
The result adds to a series of early victories recorded by Accord in the election.
Earlier, the party also won at the polling unit of former Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, where it secured 125 votes.
At the same polling unit, APC garnered 85 votes, while ADC polled five votes.
INEC has continued to upload results to the IReV portal as collation progresses across the state.
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