Activities at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike MOUAU were on Thursday temporarily brought to a halt as the University’s branch of the Academy Staff Union of Universities, ASUU embarked on a congress and peaceful protest over federal government’s failure to address their demands.
Speaking at the event, the National President of ASUU Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke said ASUU was not defeated in the strike action but rather they have recorded some successes as the federal government captured some of their demands in the budget of next year for the Nigerian Universities including the salary increase.
Osodeke maintained that the struggle by ASUU is for the development of Nigerian education and not for personal gains, while advising the Federal government to obey all the agreement made to every union in the nation.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairperson of the Academic staff Union of Universities, MOUAU chapter, Prof. Chike Ugwuene said the Federal government has turned ASUU to casual workers despite the intellectualism and commitment shown by the union and added that they do not deserve ugly treatment.
Also speaking, the Zonal coordinator of ASUU, Owerri ZONE, Comrade Professor Uzo Onyeinama represented by Prof. Chinyere Echendu said the Federal government did not care to reach out to the union, instead they took ASUU to court that ordered them to go back to school. He noted that ASUU obeyed the court notwithstanding the working conditions.
Meanwhile, members of ASUU MOUAU were seen carrying placards with different inscriptions like IPPIS AN INSTRUMENT OF CORRUPTION, FG IDEALISED CORRUPTION BUT HATES EDUCATION, ASUU MEANS WELL FOR NIGERIANS and many others, while they threatened to embark on another strike if the Federal government does not obey their agreement.
