By Chris Eriyamremu, Warri
The Fitters Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ( FISSAN), has blamed the federal government for the lingering strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU, and urged the Government to take necessary steps to end the strike for the interest of Nigerian students.
The association, in a statement Friday, in Warri, Delta State, signed by Comrade Ambaiowei A. Ambaiowei, President; and Comrade Morrister P.O Idibra, National Secretary, it said: ” it’s quite unfortunate that the federal government has undermined and probably intend to ridicule and collapse our educational system by deliberately allowing the ASUU strike to linger”.
” The ASUU strike, no doubt had negatively affected the students and children who have been at home for months. We are supporting the resolution by the National Executive Committee of Nigerian Labour Congress NLC, that the government is responsible for the strike action by its failure to honour a legally valid collective bargaining agreement.”
” Abandoning the students at home for months was not for the best interest of the country. We demand that the strike should be called off immediately to enable students return to their studies.”
FISSAN also faulted the recent ill-advised declaration of “no work – no pay” policy and the stoppage of the salaries of the striking university workers by the federal government.
The association backed NLC’s resolution to organize a one-day solidarity action in support of Congress affiliates in the Education sector.
The NLC, had described the stoppage of salaries of striking university workers as draconian especially since government is responsible for the strike action by its failure to honour a legally valid collective bargaining agreement.