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.