•Cautions Against Resumption of Strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has been advised to take the advantage of pre-election period to engage the presidential candidate of various political parties on their plans for educational sector in the country.
A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Lai Olurode gave this advice saying that ASUU should try and avoid any temptation of resorting to another strike option.
“With only two clear months to the presidential election, ASUU should avoid the temptation of resorting or a renewal of the strike option. This caution isn’t because its case was lacking in merit. It is important to, at this point in the struggle, factor in public perception,” Olurode stated in an advisory made available to the NPO Reports
The former University of Lagos Sociology lecturer added that the academic body in the country should look beyond the current government to finding a lasting solution to the current challenges facing education by engaging all the presidential candidates.
“My position is that ASUU should look beyond the current government for the resolution of the impasse.We need to move forward.”
Olurode further advised that ASUU should engage the social scientists among its members to conduct a scientific survey among all the presidential candidates in the country.
“It should peep into the future, request social scientists among its members to randomly select a representative sample of potential electors from voter register, gauge its opinion on the candidate likely to win the presidential election.
“ASUU should keep the result but still go ahead to negotiate with almost all candidates.
He, therefore, advised that ASUU should be guided while taking a final decision after it might have engaged all the candidates with the necessary documents.
“ASUU should be guided by the outcome of this scientific survey in deciding who to engage on the future and funding of higher education in Nigeria.
“ASUU will thereafter counsel its members on conclusions reached with all presidential candidates and after it had extracted promises and signatures from them.
“To avoid untoward backlash, ASUU leadership is being asked to still engage all candidates in spite of the outcome of its survey.”