ASUU Strike: Oyo state herbalists back action as students urge NLC to join

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has been advised not to back out of the ongoing strike except the Federal Government is ready to meet their demands.

Hundreds of students expressed their support for the union on Monday at a town hall meeting, tagged, Save Public Education Campaign, which was organised by ASUU, UI chapter at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan.

They also urged the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to join the strike in order to force government to respond positively to the full implementation of the 2009 agreement.

Speaking, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, Chairman, ASUU UI chapter, said the Union would use any method to actualize their demands, clarifying that the struggle was not about the salaries of lecturers, but the funding of education in the country.

“Instead of begging ASUU, the government should declare a state of emergency in the education sector”“We are using so many methods. We cannot tell you when to move to Bodija Market. That is part of our strategies,” he said.

Reacting to the call by the students, Mr. Bashir Olanrewaju , NLC Chairman in Oyo State, said, “By Wednesday, we will come out with a more proactive stance on the strike.

“Though, students have called on us to go on strike, we will not go on strike now. We will only mediate.

“If an affiliate has a problem, joining it in strike will collapse the whole system. We have never been docile about the incident,” he explained.

On their part, herbalists in Oyo State have also pledged their support for ASUU.

According to the President of the herbalists in the state, Dr. Arunoyemi Asanlaye, in Ibadan on Monday said “We are in support of the ongoing ASUU strike”.

“What they are doing is for the improvement of the education sector. The federal government should listen to them,” the leader added.