#ASUUStrike Update: Iyayi’s death causes ASUU to postpone NEC meeting

As expected, the death of one time ASUU president Prof. Festus Iyayi has paused the decision making process. Iyayi who before his death was the Head of the department of Business Administration, University of Benin and also one of negotiating team of ASUU. It was reported that they were on the way to Bayero University Kano, where the decision was to be taken when his vehicle and one of the vehicles in the convoy of Kogi state Governor, Captain Idris Wada (Rtd) collided.

Iyayi who was in company of Benin Zonal coordinator of the union, Dr. Sunny Iyalo; the National welfare officer, Dr. Ngozi Ilo and University of Benin chairman of ASUU, Dr. Anthony Monye-Emina was the only one that died as Ilo was badly injured and presently receiving treatment in Lokoja General Hospital. The remaining two only escaped with minor wounds.

Eye witnesses said this ill-fated accident happened at Banda, a village close to Lokoja and neither the government nor any of the vehicles in his convoy stopped to check what had happened. Although the Special Adviser to Kogi State governor on Media and Strategy, Mr. Jacob Edi denied the accusation claiming that he did not only stop at the scene but also ordered the medical personnel in the ambulance in the convoy to attend to the victims.

Former ASUU president Festus Iyayi killed in fatal crash today

Former President of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Dr. Festus Iyayi, was killed this afternoon in a fatal auto accident in Lokoja, on his way to Kano state for a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU where the union is expected to call off its four month old strike.

It's being reported that the convoy of the Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Idris Wada, rammed into the vehicle conveying Professor Iyayi and some members of the union to Kano. The university don who is also a popular writer, died on the scene while two other occupants of the vehicle were injured.

Outcome of FG & ASUU meeting: FG to give varsities N1.1tn in 5yrs

Very late Monday night November 4th, President Jonathan met with officials of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, over the on-going strike. After the meeting, ASUU officials said they would relay the outcome of the meeting later this week after consulting with other members of their board. The Union has not made an official statement yet but Punch is reporting that a key component of the agreement reached by the parties after the meeting was that the Federal Government would  inject N1.1trillion into public universities in the next five years.

They said the federal government would release N220billion yearly into the sector beginning from 2014. For the outgoing year, the government will only release N100bn and this has been processed.

They also said the strike would be called off anytime next week.

The truth about Govt's position on ASUU strike - Finance Ministry

This is a press statement from the Federal Ministry of Finance about the ongoing ASUU strike. It's been four long months (Quite shameful I must add) with no apparent resolution to the conflict in sight...and some people are blaming the Minister of finance Dr Okonjo Iweala for what's going on.

Some people in ASUU have been distributing flyers with abusive messages against Dr Okonjo-Iweala and now the ministry is issuing a statement about it, saying the minister is not the problem. I'd rather read about when ASUU is calling off this strike to be honest. Find the press statement below