UNIJOS ASUU restates commitment to strike
By Taye Obateru
Jos – The University of Jos Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has vowed that no amount of intimidation or arm-twisting would make its members return to work unless the on-going strike is called off by its national body.
It has, therefore, warned parents and guardians not to risk sending their wards back to school in the event that the university announces a resumption date before the strike is called-off.
Briefing journalists at the end of a congress meeting  yesterday, chapter Chairman, Dr. Timothy Namo, said based on the announcement last week by the university’s governing council chairman directing management to initiate moves for the resumption of academic activities, it envisages that the management will soon be forced to announce a resumption date.
“While re-affirming its commitment to the on-going struggle by the union, ASUU, University of Jos Branch, advises parents and guardians not to risk sending their wards to Jos until the issues raised with the Federal Government are addressed and the strike is suspended,†he said.
The union dismissed arguments that by virtue of university autonomy staff unions are supposed to negotiate with their respective governing councils insisting that this cannot hold since no university is financially autonomous.
“It is common knowledge that no public university in Nigeria is financially independent. Their funds are mainly provided by their owners. The Minister of Education, the Executive Secretary of the NUC and indeed our Council know this. But they continue to want the unsuspecting public to believe that individual Governing Councils can negotiate any Condition of Service with their employees. What a deception!†the union added.
On the threat to apply the ‘no-work, no-pay’ rule, Namo said members had prepared their minds to go without salary if need be for the sake of the struggle adding, “we have prepared our minds, so it is nothing new to us as far as the issue of salary is concerned.â€
