The University of Jos chapter of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) has said it will not surrender, even if the receives the directive of the National President of the Union. Dr. David Janakam, the Chairman of the UNIJOS chapter, stated this in an interview in the capital city of Plateau State – Jos. “The National President of ASUU cannot ask us to call off just because the Union has met with Mr. President. We don’t operate that way. Whatever agreement reached between the national body and Mr. President will be a subject of discussion at local branches.
“We can only call it off when the local branches give their acceptance to whatever agreement reached with the Federal Government in their last meeting with President Jonathan. Dr. Janakam said ASUU members have lost confidence in the Federal Government when it comes to agreement based on the lesson learnt from the current strike adding that the minutes of the last meeting with President Jonathan will be critically reviewed. “If the local branches do not see any seriousness in the contents of that meeting, we will let our national body know of our opinion accordingly. If our response is positive, only then the national body can announce that we have agreed to resume classes. “So, as far as this strike is concerned, it is the members of ASUU nationwide that can determine the end of the strike, not the National President. Leaders of various chapters of ASUU cannot take decision on behalf of their members in this case. It is the members themselves that should say it is time to call off. So it is not a leadership thing” said Dr. Jankam. “I’m just coming back from Abuja where that National President and zonal chairmen briefed us chairmen of local chapters on their dialogue with Mr. President. Back home we will converge in our congress to discuss the issues. Whatever resolution reached in our congress will be made known to our national body. “This is going to be the processes for calling off of this strike. That was why I said this strike cannot be called off with directive of ASUU President. It has to be the other way round”. He said the congress of the UNIJOS ASUU chapter has been scheduled for Monday next week.
“We can only call it off when the local branches give their acceptance to whatever agreement reached with the Federal Government in their last meeting with President Jonathan. Dr. Janakam said ASUU members have lost confidence in the Federal Government when it comes to agreement based on the lesson learnt from the current strike adding that the minutes of the last meeting with President Jonathan will be critically reviewed. “If the local branches do not see any seriousness in the contents of that meeting, we will let our national body know of our opinion accordingly. If our response is positive, only then the national body can announce that we have agreed to resume classes. “So, as far as this strike is concerned, it is the members of ASUU nationwide that can determine the end of the strike, not the National President. Leaders of various chapters of ASUU cannot take decision on behalf of their members in this case. It is the members themselves that should say it is time to call off. So it is not a leadership thing” said Dr. Jankam. “I’m just coming back from Abuja where that National President and zonal chairmen briefed us chairmen of local chapters on their dialogue with Mr. President. Back home we will converge in our congress to discuss the issues. Whatever resolution reached in our congress will be made known to our national body. “This is going to be the processes for calling off of this strike. That was why I said this strike cannot be called off with directive of ASUU President. It has to be the other way round”. He said the congress of the UNIJOS ASUU chapter has been scheduled for Monday next week.
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