*As ASUU distances self from Feb., March elections.
Oladele Ogunsola, Ibadan.
Contrary to its earlier promise to cooperate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the conduct of February and March general elections, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday announced that it would not be involved in the elections as a body.
However, the union, said its members may voluntarily participate in the election, with a warning that such participating members must not use any material that bears ASUU or relates to the union.
This position was contained in a strike Bulletin 8 issued and signed by the President of the union, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, a copy of which was obtained in Ibadan.
On the ongoing strike by the union, it was disclosed that the offer from the Federal Government towards resolving the demands of ASUU as contained in the 2017 Memorandum of Action (MoA) “is still fluid and far from expectations”.
Asking members to await further developments from the strike which the President said “are rapidly unfolding”, the union maintained that “the proposal from government towards resolving the demands of ASUU as contained in the 2017 MoA is still fluid and far from expectations.
“Though some progress has been made with respect to discussion with Government agents (The Minister of Labour and Employment as well as Minister of Education) at the moment, the proposal from government towards resolving the demand of ASUU as contained in 2017 MoA and Strike Bulletin 1 is still too fluid and far from expectations.
“Hence, it is the view of the NSCC that members should await further developments which are rapidly unfolding. In accordance with the ASUU’s long standing position, ASUU as a union will not participate in the conduct of 2019 general elections, although members may voluntarily participate in the conduct of the elections.
“However, members are prohibited from participating in the election processes, using any material that bears ASUU or relates to the union”, the President further added.
