The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has insisted that its ongoing strike action continues despite the federal government’s approval for the reopening of all schools, including tertiary institutions.
Minister of education, Adamu Adamu, had during a briefing on Friday, announced that unity schools will resume on 12th October, 2020.
He added that private and state schools will determine their own opening schedule but warned that they must comply with laid out COVID-19 guidelines.
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ASUU president, Biodun Ogunyemi while reacting to the directive, said institutions cannot reopen because the union is still on strike, adding that members will not resume work until its demands are met.
“ASUU is not responsible for the closure of schools. So, government has done what it knows how to do best, which is to give and follow-up on directives.
“As for ASUU, the demands of our union have not been met.”
Prof Ogunyemi, who noted that the federal government has the right to reopen, however, stated that lecturers will continue to withhold their service.
The ASUU president also insisted that lecturers will not resume classes until government considers its agreement with the body in 2009.
He said: “We did not close the universities. It is the right of the government to reopen the universities. It is also the right of lecturers to withhold their services.”
The university don revealed that ASUU was expected to meet with the federal government on September 17, 2020 but the latter had withdrawn from the arrangement, stating that it was not ready yet.
Ogunyemi however, stated that ASUU’s next line of action with regards to the ongoing strike will be determined by the outcome of the meeting, adding that the union is still waiting for the federal government to communicate the new date for the meeting.
