NGO urges FG, ASUU to reach compromise

An NGO, 'The African Youth Assembly for Peace (AYAP)', has called on the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to reach a compromise, with a view to ending the ongoing strike action by the union.

Mr Abdul-Aziz Yusuf, Head Communications and Research of the group, said this in an interview on Wednesday in Abuja.

Yusuf said the call became necessary considering negative implications of the strike on the lives of the students who were mostly youths.

He said: "It is really sad that ASUU has embarked on an indefinite strike and as a youths organisation; we are worried about the development.

"This incessant strike has continued to affect the academic performance of the students, especially when it is prolonged.

"Some of them, who were very happy when they got admission have suddenly felt weary towards their academics due to these incessant strikes."

He, therefore, urged all the stakeholders, especially members of ASUU, to reconsider their decision in the interest of the students.

Yusuf said that stakeholders in the education sector must come together to find a lasting solution to the incessant strike by the university lecturers due to its negative impact on the future of Nigerian students.

The AYAP spokesman however, frowned at ASUU's demand for the federal government to pay them six-month salary arrears on the period of which they were on strike.

He maintained , "it was insensitive on the part of ASUU to demand for pay," saying that the federal government`s "no work, no pay" policy was "strictly within the law."

According to him, Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act was clear by insisting that "striking workers are not entitled to their habitual remunerations for the period that they cease to work.

"The federal government can only pay them on compassionate grounds for the purpose of maintaining industrial harmony."