2009 Renegotiation: ATBU ASUU Embarks On Peaceful Protest
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi branch, on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful protest to drive home their demand for the conclusion of the 2009 renegotiation delayed for 15 years.
The protest which took place within the Yelwa campus of the University, saw members of the Union carried different placards with varied inscriptions.
The ASUU members walked from their Secretariat within the campus to the main gate and back, chanting solidarity songs and displayed placards.
They urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency conclude the renegotiation to avoid another round of strike by paying all the earned allowances, release of withheld salaries, and payment of promotion arrears as well as their total rejection of IPPIS.
ASUU also told the Federal Government to stop the establishment of unfounded public Universities, but should concentrate on the provision of adequate funding for the already established public Universities.
The University lecturers also urged the Government to as a matter of public importance, revert what it described as “the illegal dissolution” of Universities Governing Councils, saying that, they were tired of Government’s deception.
Addressing journalists at the end of their protest march, the Chairman of ASUU, Dr Ibrahim Ibrahim, said that the protest was just to call the attention of the Federal Government on the need to ensure that it does the needful.
Represented by his Vice, Mohammed Mohammed Inti, the ASUU chairperson said all the Union members are saying was that they do not want another round of strike in the Universities, stressing that the intending strike is avoidable.
Ibrahim therefore wants the Federal Government to look into the demands of ASUU and evolve ways of resolving them in order to ensure that the Universities run according to laws and regulations to have smooth academic situations.
The ASUU chairman said that members of the Union are open to amicably resolution of the lingering problems, thus urged the government to exhibit the political will needed to bring the issues to a permanent end.
