Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The Academic Staff Union of Universties (ASUU) yesterday declared a "comprehensive total and indefinite strike". It cited the alleged failure of the Fedral Government to address its demands. The indefinate strike took effect from 12.00am yesterday. ASUU took the decision at the end of an emergency National Executive meeting at its secretariat in Abuja. 

SENIOR dons have berated the Fedral Government for refusing to pay members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for the duration of the six month strike. ASUU had insisted on payment of salary as condition to return to work. Prof. A.O Adefulu-Ositelu described the government as "wicked and insensitive" to the education and future of youths. she said if the children of top government functionaries atteneded public universities, government would not allow the strike for one week. Adefulu-Ositelu slammed the ill treatment of lecturers, stressing, "our best products are pushed into global servitude because of the uncommitted attitude and decisions. This is stunting our national progress and success". She called on the government to pay salaries of lecturers and meet ASUU`s demands. "it is embarrassing and disheartening that this kind of statement should be allowed, and still drag on.It shows the insensitivity of government. This is uncalled for..."

The Fed Govt and the academic staff union yesterday shed more light on why the six strike ended in a deadlock. Why the govt claim that ASSU's insisted on the payment of backlog of its members salaries was prolonging the strike, the union blame the deadlock on the provocative indifference of the government. However, the minister advice ASSU to see the no-work, no-salary stance of the government as its members' compensation to students for the period they have stayed at home.

The Federal Government yesterday urge the Academic Staff of Universities (ASUU) to reconsider the "comprehensive, total and indefinite strike action" it declared on Monday.The government said it had invested in education sector, especially the universities. Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opaih, made a presentation to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutiions and TETfund during an oversight visit to the Federal Ministry of Education. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media Public Affairs, Kelechi Mejuobi, Opiah said all demands of ASUU had been met. He said Federal Government only came up with a standard principle of "no work, no pay" which he said was a universal policy. "The govornment has yielded to all the demands of ASUU. The only thing is that government does`nt support anyone who doesn`t work but wants pay", the minister of state said. Opiah, who stood in for Minister of Eduction, Mallam Adamu Adamu, belives more had been spent through TETFUND on universities in infrastructure than ASUU requested. He said the issues related to welfare had also been settled. The minister of state, however, did not provide specifics of ASUU`s academic he claimed the government met. Apart from seeking payment of the withheld salaries of its members, ASUU is demanding for the revisitation of public universities: payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) Eared ALLOWANCES (EA) and payment of salary shortfalls.