PLASU STRIKE: SEVEN-MAN HIGH POWERED COMMITTEE ON PLASU INDUSTRIAL CRISIS MEETS STUDENT LEADERS
The high powered committee set up to look into the industrial crisis rocking the Plateau State University Bokkos has met with student leaders of the university with a view to bringing them up to speed with the level of negotiation between the Committee and various unions of the university.
The student leaders invited for the crucial meeting were those of the Student Union Government, SUG and the National Association of Plateau State Students, NAPSS Plateau State University chapter.
Chairman of the 7-man committee and Plateau State Head of Civil Service Mr Izam Azi told the student leaders that the meeting became necessary to explain steps so far taken by government to address the demands of the 4 unions of the university with a view to ending their agitations and resuming academic activities.
Mr Izam Azi said following intensive negotiations, the Non Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities NASU and National Association of Academic Technologists NAAT Plateau State University Chapter have already agreed to suspend their planned strike actions while the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian University, SSANU and the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU Plateau State University chapter are still on the negotiating table with the committee.
He explained that the delay to reach an agreement with SSANU is as a result of the leadership crisis within the union, while ASUU on it its own part has failed to report back to the committee after it promised to do so after its first meeting of 9th February 2021.
He however promised to bring back ASUU to the negotiating table having communicated them to that effect already.
Vice Chancellor of the Plateau State University Bokkos, Professor Yohana Daniel Izam told the student leaders that he is not happy to be presiding over a University that has not reopened when others have resumed.
The Vice Chancellor, himself a member of the 7-man committee assured the students of a definite response within the coming week.
While commending the students for their peaceful conduct so far, he called on them to continue to adopt a nonviolent approach to express their grievances.
Another member of the committee and acting Bursar of the University, Mr Lawrence Kerekkum Longsen explained to the student leaders that seven out of the eight demands of ASUU have been met by government and wondered why the union would hold the university to ransom over earned allowance of which government has been magnanimous agreed to pay that of 4 years saying ASUU needs to shift ground in order to allow for the resumption of academic activities in the University.
Also speaking, President of the Students Union Government of the University, Mr Ezikiel Dajeu Luatei conveyed the grievances of the students to the committee saying the committee should be mindful of the time frame of its assignment and ASUU must not be allowed to frustrate the process.
He said the students of the university have ran out of patience and are greatly traumatized by the non-resumption of academic activities.
