…We won’t back down till all our demands are met – ASUU
By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR
After 45 days of a crippling strike that has shut down academic activities at the University of Cross River State, UNICROSS, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, says it is set to meet with the state government as both sides move to resolve the impasse.
The ASUU chapter chairman, Dr Patrick Ushie, disclosed this in an interview with Vanguard in Calabar on Tuesday, stating that the union had received an invitation from a technical committee set up by the government to look into the matter.
He said the committee had requested documents detailing the union’s grievances, which were submitted on Tuesday in preparation for the meeting.
“These documents were submitted today (Tuesday), and we are preparing for the meeting before the week runs out. I am sure the documents are meant to prepare them for the planned meeting,” Ushie stated.
Asked whether the strike could be suspended after the meeting, he said, “It is all we pray and hope for, just like them.”
He, however, insisted the union would not back down until its demands are fully met.
“There is no backing down on the strike until our demands are fully met by the government,” he declared.
ASUU-UNICROSS on May 19 embarked on an indefinite strike over 11 grievances bordering on welfare and the non-implementation of agreements with the union’s national body, including unpaid salaries, wage award arrears, and unremitted check-off dues amounting to N11.9 million.
Ushie explained that the action followed a breakdown of dialogue with the institution’s management, which cited funding constraints.
“Management told us that they currently receive N300 million as subvention from the government and would need an additional N200 million to meet our demands.
“We also wrote the governor and as we speak, he has not responded to our letter since we did,” he said.
Governor Bassey Otu had, on June 17, approved the constitution of a seven-member Technical Committee, led by Prof. Uduak Effiong, to undertake a comprehensive review of the university’s working environment, staff welfare, and governance, as part of efforts to resolve the crisis and reposition the institution for academic excellence.
