KWASU ASUU: Why we can’t continue with ongoing strike

The Kwara State University (KWASU) branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it would not join the extended strike by the national body of the union.

ASUU had on February 14 declared a one-month warning strike to protest the non-implementation of its demands by the federal government.

But on Monday, the union extended the strike by eight weeks, citing the government’s failure to fully address its demands.

In a statement by Shehu Salahu, its chairman, the varsity’s ASUU branch said it is in support of the strike but will not continue with it due to challenges confronting the institution.

“We regret our inability to join the second stage of the current warning strike in view of peculiar challenges for which we seek the understanding of national body of our union,” the statement read.

“However, we support the actions and initiatives of the national body on matters before the federal government, and call on the Nigerian government to do the needful to end the current impasse in the interest of the nation.

“The KWASU branch, presently on observer status, is following the trend and the efforts of the national ASUU to resolve the matter before the federal government and is continuously briefing members of developments as communicated by the national ASUU, as well as attending branch and zonal meetings called to appraise the situation.

“As a young branch just admitted into the fold, KWASU has challenges owing to our funding status of zero subvention for about seven years ago.

“The branch relies on internally generated revenue (IGR) as well as loans from banks to run the university. This situation is detrimental in no small measure to the system. KWASU is relatively a new branch and our members are gradually being initiated into the ASUU philosophy, tradition and procedures.”

The KWASU ASUU branch said it had already communicated with the leadership of the union and other relevant stakeholders on its position on the strike.

It also called on the federal government to address the union’s demands so the strike would be suspended in the overall interest of the country.