National Universities Commission (NUC) has called on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to refrain from causing disruption in the university system as they threaten to strike.
In an interactive meeting with journalists in Abuja, NUC’s Acting Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki, urged ASUU to “sheath their sword” and preserve academic peace and harmony.
ASUU recently issued a nationwide strike notice to the Federal Government citing concerns over the absence of Governing Councils for universities and other issues related to members’ welfare and working conditions.
Maiyaki reassured ASUU that the government is addressing their demands, particularly the issue of Governing Councils.
He confirmed that the Councils have been constituted and will be inaugurated soon.
He said: “the first thing to do is the inauguration of the local organizing committee which has been done by the Minister long ago. I am a member of the committee, and as such I can confirm that we have done most of the work in terms of selection of good heads to serve in the Governing Councils, and we are waiting for the right date to inaugurate the Councils.
“Selecting Governing Council members for 65 federal universities is no small task. Extra care is required to ensure that the right people are selected to do that job.
“Our plan this time is for orientation course to accompany the inauguration. There won’t be opportunity to go and come back for the orientation, which will provide opportunity for them to know their responsibilities and boundaries, to avoid interference and clashes with the day-to-day managers of the institutions.
“We know the importance of Governing Councils in the running of the universities, and it wasn’t intentional to delay the reconstitution. We needed to be sure that the right individuals are selected for such huge responsibilities. So, ASUU should not down tools yet, and give us some time to fix the challenge.”
