ASUU: Now That The FG Has Shifted Grounds, Strike Will End Soon

Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan branch, Dr Segun Ajiboye, yesterday said that the strike by the union which has entered sixth month would soon come to an end, especially as the federal government has begun to shift grounds. He however did not give details of the ‘ground-shifting’ he talked about.

The federal government had earlier given the resume-or-be-sacked ultimatum which should have ended yesterday, but later extended it to December 9 as a mark of respect for deceased former president of ASUU, Prof Festus Iyayi who died in accident on his way to the union’s National Executive Council, NEC meeting on the ongoing strike.

Dropping the hint in Ibadan yesterday during the session of tributes organised to honour the late Professor Festus Iyayi, Ajiboye noted that the ceremony organised by ASUU was not only to mourn Iyayi but also to mobilise ASUU members towards pursuing the struggle to its logical conclusion.

The academic community in the university staged a candlelight procession in honour of the late former National President of ASUU.

The ASUU members, including the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Isaac Adewole, and some other principal officers, adorned in black gowns, commenced the procession at the ASUU secretariat, Mellanby Hall of the school and marched to the Faculty of Arts enroute Kenneth Dike Road with solidarity songs rendered in low mournful tone.

In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, commended the courage and the resilience of Iyayi, describing him as a gentleman who was committed to not only the development of education in Nigeria but towards good living of Nigerians. He said the dreams of Iyayi should be made to come true.

In his tribute, a former National President of ASUU, Professor Sola Olukunle, described Iyayi as a man of peace whose peace mission is also based on reasonable principles, therefore it would be a great disservice if the current struggle is subdued and disallowed to reach its logical conclusion as intended by the late leader.