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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has constituted a seven-member committee to address what it tagged a ‘smear media campaign’ against the union.
The committee, with members drawn across various universities, is called “Rapid Response Committee.”
The commitee would be chaired by Prof. Ade Adejumo, of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.
In a leaked letter of appointment addressed to one of the nominees, and signed by the union’s president, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU tasked the committee with the responsibility to develop strategies to tackle the alleged media campaign against the union’s decision to continue with its ongoing strike.
Recently, Nigerians have criticised the union ASUU for declaring an indefinite strike action after almost seven months away from work.
Many accused the union of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerian students whose academic pursuits have been stalled since the commencement of the strike on February 14.
ASUU has refused to shift grounds, vowing not to suspend the strike until government meets its demands. Other striking unions in the university system have suspended their strike as negotiations continue with government.
Also, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, allaged that ASUU refused to yield to his appeal, insisting on the payment of its members’ five months salaries before it will suspend the strike. But ASUU denied the minister’s claim, saying it refused to suspend the strike because the government was yet to meet any of its demands despite multiple meetings.
In the letter dated September 1, ASUU listed members of the committee and urged them to be diligent in its task.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is at a very critical stage of its struggle towards the survival of Public Universities in Nigeria. It has been observed that a lot of media propaganda to misinform and malign the Union is ongoing. The Union appreciates your efforts in responding to this media war.
“The Trustees and Principal Officers of the Union decided to constitute a rapid response committee to immediately respond to various media publications, opinions, interviews etc, that may be against the interest of the union,” the letter read in part.
The union listed members of the committee to include Prof Ade Adejumo of LAUTECH as Convener and Prof Victor Igbum of Benue State University as Secretary.
Other members of the committee include Prof Joseph Ushie (University of Uyo); Prof Abdulgafar Amoka (Ahmadu Bello University); Adelaja Odukoya (University of Lagos); Taiwo Obateru (University of Jos); and Otu Akamu (Alex Ekwueme Federal University).