“No country thrives economically merely by exporting its raw materials and importing virtually everything. Such a disposition weakens our economic base and employment capabilities.-PO “Nigeria can no longer afford to remain a consuming economy. While meeting local demands, she must transition into trading with manufactured and finished goods, and playing in the technology in the export market.- PO”

Some members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have asked the union to end further negotiations with federal government regarding the ongoing strike it embarked on.

The lecturers in federal government owned public universities have been on strike since February.

Yesterday, ASUU declared an indefinite strike following the federal government’s failure to meet their demands.

Reliable sources said the majority of the ASUU chapters across universities supported the decision to go on indefinite strike. According to Daily Trust, beyond the indefinite strike, some lecturers had advised that the union should shun further talks with the federal government until when another government is formed after the exit of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023.

A member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the union, who spoke in confidence, affirmed the development, noting that with the declaration of indefinite strike, “There would be no more negotiations with the federal government.”

The NEC member disclosed that there was a shouting match among ASUU members at the beginning of the meeting over some issues, including a comment credited to the ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke when he appeared on Arise Television where he reportedly called state universities “quacks”.

Daily Trust quoted the official as saying, ‘’Some people faulted him for saying that, while others backed him. The two camps shouted at each other but we later resolved everything. Let me tell you, no more negotiations until when our demands are met.”

A source close to the ASUU leadership at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria said that even though there was no resolution yet at the top level, some members of the union were of the opinion to stop negotiation with the federal government until when President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office in May 2023.

“I can assure you that this view is gathering momentum in many universities,” the lecturer said.

“Many lecturers believe that there is no need to keep dissipating energy talking to government officials because they are not ready to listen.

“I know that many lecturers here in ABU and others at BUK, Federal University, Dutse and in the South are of the opinion that ASUU should also foreclose talking to the government until after this government leaves.

“It is not that we don’t have empathy. We are all affected. I am also affected because I have children in the public university and they have been at home for over six months. I have also not been receiving my salary but the fact is that the government should do the right thing to save the universities from collapsing,” he said.

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