By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

A faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, University of Abuja branch, has dissociated itself from the indefinite strike earlier declared by Dr Sylvanus Ugoh.

The faction, which referred to itself as ‘Anti-Strike ASUU members’, said they were not aware of any strike declared by anybody in the school and hence would not participate in such action.

Addressing the media shortly after the declaration of indefinite strike by Ugoh, the factional ASUU, led byt he Dean and former convener, ASUU National Political Committee, Dr. Abubakar Kari and the ex-Nigeria Ambassador to Japan who doubles as Head of Department,HOD, Agric Engineering, University of Abuja, Prof. M. Y. Gana, asked the public to disregard Ugoh’s pronouncement. 

The faction said its members were not joining any strike declared by anybody and asked students and staff to disregard Ugoh’s action. 

Dr. Abubakar Kari said, “The cabal dictating to Dr. Sylvanus-led local ASUU desperately wanted a strike to satisfy their personal interests but never the larger interests of ASUU members and the University of Abuja.

“Members of ASUU here, standing for several other members with like minds but unavoidably absent, rise to reassure students, parents, and members of the public that we will protect the sanctity of the University of Abuja’s robust academic calendar and continue to work for continuous opening of university operations.

“We vehemently demand that ASUU must work for ASUU and not a hidden cabal out to take the University of Abuja back to the inglorious yesteryears. 

“A decision to go on an indefinite strike without, at any point, seeking members of ASUU’s vote for or against is absolutely not the ASUU procedure for calling strike. 

“So, the so-called strike remains unrepresentative of the larger members of ASUU and cannot stand.”