ASUU Strike: Pro- Chancellors Declare All Varsities Open - Proof..

The Committee of Pro-chancellors of
Nigerian Federal Universities, on
Tuesday, unanimously ordered
immediate re-opening of
Universities across the country.
The communiqué signed by the
Chairman of the Committee,
Professor Kimse Okoko, was made
available to newsmen late Tuesday
in Abuja.
The communiqué was issued at the
end of the committee meeting to
discuss the protracted strike
byAcademic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) and other
issues affecting the Nigerian
University system.
The communiqué stated that the
decision to re-open the Universities
was unanimously agreed by all pro-
chancellors in the overall interest of
all concerned.
The pro-chancellors, in the
communique, directed all vice
chancellors to comply with the
committee decision.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the
decision of the pro-chancellors was
predicated on the earlier
referendum held by various
chapters of ASUU that voted 60-40
in favour of suspension of the over
four months old strike.
They expressed dismay that all
efforts to resolve the crisis,
including the intervention of
President Goodluck Jonathan, has
failed.
The communiqué recognised “all
effort by Federal Government to
address the major issues involved
in the strike action including the
bold and the supportive
intervention by Mr President.”
It also stated that the committee
noted “with satisfaction the
outcome of the referendum
conducted in all branches of ASUU
nationwide which voted 60-40 in
favour of the suspension of the
ongoing strike by ASUU.”
The pro-chancellors called for the
understanding of ASUU and indeed
all staff of the various Universities
in Nigeria.
This order is coming on the heels of
polarisation that has already crept
into the ASUU , following the
meeting they had with President
Goodluck Jonathan penultimate
week.
Nigerians were amazed that the
emergency National Executive
Council meeting, held in Kaduna
last weekend, came out with fresh
conditions for suspension of strike
after it was rumoured that a deal
was struck with President Jonathan.
ASUU has been on strike since July
1 and the NEC meeting was to
deliberate on the resolutions of
various chapters of ASUU on
whether the strike should be
suspended or not based on the
offers by the government.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the
pro-chancellors were aggrieved that
even when majority of the
members of ASUU want the strike
called off, few elements in the
union have refused to yield to the
popular desire of the members.