ASUSS and BESUN will not Join NUT strike - Its meaningless

Rival teachers unions, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools of Nigeria and Basic Education Staff Union of Nigeria (BESUN) have raised opposing voices to strike notice called by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in support of the ongoing ASUU strike.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP at the end of a joint celebration by the two unions to mark the 2013 world Teachers’ Day which held at the Nigeria Army Officers’ Mess in Lagos, the unions explained that much as they share and believe in the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) call for a better learning environment their members will not join NUT in the proposed solidarity strike.

The two unions said their members will not be part of the proposed strike and ultimatum given by NUT because the decision was not a well thought out plan of action.

BESUN’s National President, comrade Dorcas Aruge explained that it will not do any good to further bring the entire sector into a limbo adding that all the unions operate at their separate levels that is clearly defined.

Showing empathy for ASUU, parents and students especially who have been at home in the last three months, she appealed to the Federal government to live up to the expectations of the university lecturers who are calling for a better learning environment. Speaking in the same vein, Lagos State President of ASUSS, Comrade Alabi Kazeem said the union will not call out its members to join in any solidarity strike with the striking university teachers, noting that NUT had failed to give convincing reasons to Nigerians for the strike.

He said, “ASUSS will not call out its member to participate in any solidarity strike over the lingering ASUU crisis. It is not a well thought out decision. Before members of a union can be called out on strike they should be given convincing reasons for enlisting their support’.

- Leadership News