ASUU declares three day prayer and fasting

Following several failed attempt at
resolving the on-going strike, the
Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) decided to go spiritual on
Tuesday by declaring a three day
fasting and prayer as they seek divine
intervention to resolve the dispute
between the union and the Nigerian
government.
Here's how The Nation reports the new
development:
The decision to embark on spiritual
intervention came during the union
congress held at the Faculty of Arts,
University of Ibadan.
The congress which was presided
over by the Chairman of University
of Ibadan (UI) chapter of ASUU, Dr.
Olusegun Ajiboye, stressed the need
for God to help Nigerian leaders to
do the needful and document the
resolutions of their meeting with the
President.
The congress which expressed
optimism that the strike will end
soon listed three prayer points to
include: “the need for God to touch
the heart of the Federal government
to be committed towards funding
public education and develop the
nation.
They also asked God to protect the
leadership of ASUU as they travel
and that the purpose of the strike is
actualized by placing universities in
the league of world class
institutions.”
Speaking after the congress, Dr.
Ajiboye said the union does not
need newspaper confirmation from
the president that N200billion has
been deposited with the Central
Bank of Nigeria.
He said it was impossible for
anybody who has not opened an
account with a bank to request the
bank for a balance.
While urging the federal government
to be serious about the future of the
country, the don accused the
government of “still keeping the
students at home.”
He said the union has the
machinery to suspend the strike
within 24 hours once the grey areas
in the resolutions have been sorted
out by the federal government.
This is an unfortunate situation. The
strike, which began on July 1, is yet to
be resolved and students are delayed
unnecessarily. Unfortunately, the
Nigerian job market is very age-
conscious; if you are not within a
certain age bracket, chances of getting
an entry-level job after graduation is
slim.
Let's hope both parties resolve their
differences sooner than later.