The lingering strike actionn embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Chairman, Kogi State University Chapter, Sylvester Osakwe Ukwuteno, has said the union is ready to fight until their request is granted, even if takes more than a year, as he noted that Ghana experienced a year and some months strike before the government came to their senses and the outcome is currently obvious, “we would do even more till our request is granted,” he stated.
Despite the N30 billion released to the striking university lecturers as payment for the earned allowances, Ukwuteno, has said that the ongoing strike by the union will continue because the Federal Government has not strengthened its vision for the sector.
Speaking to Vanguard Learning in a telephone interview, Ukwuteno explained that if there are plans for the sector, government would have speedily concurred with the plea to innovate the sector being pursued by the union, adding that the pursuit of the union is to ensure that the country meets up with the international standard of education.
“We hope this would be the last strike that will surface on this particular discourse, hopefully if the government cares for education because we will not budge until our demands are met. The much emphasis of ‘no money syndrome’ is all lies as the president could convey over 300 entourage including himself, to China coupled with their allowances, welfare and other incentives, they should tell Nigerians where the money is coming from.
“The quest is not money motivated as speculated, but to ensure that facilities and other necessary equipment needed to update the students are made scalable for effective learning. Universities are currently operating with little or no equipment in the labs, making the labs non-functional for practicals, thereby sterilizing what is supposed to be practically inclined.
“It took Ghana a year and some months strike before the government came to their senses and the outcome is currently obvious, we would do even more till our request is granted.”
He therefore urged the public to join in the struggle by mounting pressure on the government to hasten up in its decisions because the students are the casualties now, but will be the benefactors if eventually granted.