Strike: IMSU Shut Down As ASUU Threatens FUTO Chapter

Academic activities in the Imo state University was on Monday put to a holt following the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU, nationwide strike.

Trumpeta observed that the students of the state owned University who were still writing their first semester exams were apparently distrusted by the development.

ASUU as this paper gathered, after prolonged deliberations, declared a nationwide strike following the Federal Government’s inability to implement previous agreements.

The strike was declared on Monday during a press conference addressed by the President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke.

According to ASUU National President, the strike will be “comprehensive and total”.

He, however, said the industrial action would last for the period of four weeks to enable the Federal Government to make changes.

The ASUU President vowed that the union would embark on an indefinite strike if their demands are not met within one month.

Recall that ASUU had last week, sensitized and mobilized lecturers and students across all universities on the reason the union is deciding to down tools.

In a related development, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has concluded plans to sanction its members in the Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO, and the university’s Vice-Chancellor over what it termed “illegal” promotion of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami.

The union, which made this known during a press conference by its National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke held in Lagos on Monday, said promoting the minister to a professor was illegal.

According to ASUU, it is impossible to be a minister and a lecturer at the same time, describing the promotion as encouragement of illegality.

The union however gave Pantami the option of quitting his job as a minister, saying he is currently not qualified to be treated as a professor.

He said, “You cannot be a minister and a lecturer in a university. It is an encouragement of illegality.

“Pantami has to quit as a minister and be tried for doing double jobs within the same federal system. He is not qualified. Pantami should not be treated as a professor.

“We have resolved to sanction ASUU members involved in his promotion and the VC of FUTO.”