UPDATE ON ASUU STRIKE

* The standoff between the Federal Government
and the Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) has taken a dramatic twist after the
academic body has alleged that the lives of its
leaders are being threatened.
The striking lecturers, who have refused to back
down on their demands since the strike started
over three months ago, have accused the FG of
threatening them through the use of security
agents.
The body also alleged that their finances are being
probed as despite the order to stop paying them
salaries, they have still refused to budge.
The Nation reports:
In a statement by ASUU, University of Ibadan (UI)
chapter, signed by Dr Olusegun Ajiboye, titled
“ASUU strike: Union leaders go underground”, the
ASUU leader alleged that he had received
telephone calls warning him on his role in the
ongoing strike.
 Ajiboye urged Inspector General of Police
Mohammed Abubakar to save the lives of ASUU
leaders. He said no amount of threat or
clampdown on the union would make them back
down from the strike, until public education is
saved from collapse.
 According to him, the security threat has forced
many ASUU leaders to go underground. Many of
their phone numbers have also been bugged.
 “Apart from finance, ASUU leaders are now being
trailed all over the place. A majority of our union
leaders have now gone underground while many
have their telephone lines bugged. Some are now
living in fear of their lives,” Ajiboye said.
 Ajiboye, who noted that ASUU members are not
security threats to the nation, added that citizens
are guaranteed freedom of association.
 He urged the Federal Government to leave its
leaders alone and implement the agreements it
reached with the union for normalcy to return to
university campuses.
 “The position of ASUU is that Nigeria is a
democratic country and citizens are guaranteed
freedom of association. Members of the union are
apprehensive for the lives of their leaders. We
urge the government to leave our leaders alone.
Our leaders are our servants; we are their
principals; they report to us on all matters. Rather
than chasing shadows, government is, once again
called upon to implement the FGN/ASUU 2009
agreement. Only this will bring members to their
classrooms,” Ajiboye said.
 At UI, ASUU executives disappeared from the
public shortly after last Thursday’s Congress. Most
of them have switched off their phones.
 The secretariat of the union has been deserted.