PCC seeks end to ASUU strike, meet stakeholders in Ekiti

The Public Complaints Commission (PCC), has held a truce meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), for timeous resolution of the lingering national strike embarked upon by the university lecturers.

The ASUU Chairman, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Dr Gabriel Omonijo and his counterpart in the Ekiti State University, Dr Kayode Arogundade, represented the union at the parley, while the students were led by the Chairman, NANS/JCC, Ekiti axis, Com. Felix Olanrewaju.

At the trouble-shooting meeting held in Ado-Ekiti, on Wednesday, the PCC Commissioner, Ekiti State office, Mr Kayode Bamisile, said every right-thinking Nigerian must be disturbed by the lingering strike in the universities and the attendant crises.

Bamisile said PCC waded into the matter as a federal government’s agency seeking to end the feud for students to return to their campuses, couped with complaints being received from the public over blockage of Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki road by students, causing economic damage to the state.

Having listened to the two unions, the PCC boss said, “I love the way you have conducted yourselves. I will take your position to our Chief Commissioner in Abuja for onward transmission to the Minister of Education because part of our administrative duties is the peaceful resolution of industrial disputes.

“We are all worried about the current trend where all campuses are under lock and key. Our university system must be strong to enjoy global patronage. I am optimistic that our intervention will yield a good result.”

Earlier in his position, NANS/JCC leader, Olanrewaju said as much as the students were angry with FG for reneging on its promises to academic staff, ASUU’s position on the closure of schools was not the best option, saying this signposted insensitivity and wickedness.

Expressing disgust at the ways ASUU’s members were being treated in his presentation, FUOYE’s chairperson, Omonijo said it was worrisome that the salary structures operational in universities was approved in 2009, lamenting that the highest-paid Professor in Nigeria earns N508,000.

“Regrettably, ASUU is one of the least paid workers in Nigeria. Our universities in terms of infrastructure are nothing but relics and we have made it clear that our universities must not die the way our primary and secondary schools died. Hardly could you see any parent now sending his wards to public schools.

“The issue is very simple, the FG must listen to us. They must fulfil the agreements reached with us on funding of universities, autonomy, the issue of IPPIS and our general welfare to stop the brain drain and the killing of our educational system,” he said.

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