GOVT./ASUU MEETS: ASUU DEMANDS 4 MONTHS FULL SALARY AS DICKSON'S CHIEF OF STAFF IS BOOED.

YENAGOA: The strike embarked upon by the Academic staff union of Universities (asuu) Niger delta university (NDU) chapter, has taken another twist on Wednesday 3rd August 2016 at a congress held by the union at the Faculty of Law building in Yenagoa.

The Congress which was well attended by a large crowd of lecturers and government delegation led by the Chief of staff to the Bayelsa state Governor, in person of Hon. Talford Ongolo, who was accompanied by Hon. Austin Adigio (S.A students), Hon. Ebipatei Apaingolo  (Bayelsa students management committee chairman) and others.

According to our source, it was revealed that Hon. Talford ongolo accused the union of insincerity for not keeping to their own part of the bargain, this the Congress immediate refuted by describing the chief of Staff as "Lai Mohammed", speaking further, ongolo assured the union of government seriousness in putting an end to the strike which has lasted for more than three months, he stated that Gov. Dickson is prepared to build infrastructures for the union and construct roads in the institution.

This statement immediately provoked the Congress and the COS was booed out of the podium.

The Chairman of NDU asuu, who also spoke accused the government of misinforming the public in order to incite the general masses against the union, he blamed the state Commissioner who has taken it upon himself to constantly disseminate wrong informations to the public and advised him to desist from it.

The union therefore resolved that unless four full months salaries are paid, the industrial action will not be called off.

Asuu resolves as follows:

1. That Congresses attendance was massive and cut across all cadre of Lecturers including many reputable Professors. 

2. That the  Branch EXCO  sought the leave of Congress to allow a state government delegation led by Chief of Staff Government House, Barr. Talford Ingolo.  Congress obliged and so they were admitted to the floor of Congress. 

3. It was gathered that the leader of the delegation stated that they were there to pass a message on behalf of the government.   

According to the sources,  the Chief of staff started on a  dry bad note by accusing ASUU of refusing to 'CALL OFF ' the ongoing strike after accepting to suspend the strike after payment of ONE MONTH SALARY.  

It was repoted that he was rebuffed by members of Congress to either quickly apologise or sit down immediately for telling lies; and that it took the pleading and entreaties of EXCO to calm the  freiged nerves of members .

The sources further said that just as the congress was cooling down, he raised the sensitivity issue of the  African International University TORU ORUA. 

The Congress flayed up again when he praised the governor for setting up a new university.  ASUU  member, it was gathered to him point blank that he Talford Ongolo and all the members of the government team attended Rivers State University of Science and technology Port Harcourt.  

And that they told him point blank that the ASUU NDU STRIKE has moved from salary payment to the defence of poor Bayelsan students whose educational opportunities are under serious threat by the calculated attempt by the state government to KILL NDU in order to benefit from the proceeds of AIU.  

It was gathered that Talford Ongolo may never have been so embarrassed in his lifetime. A source added that Ongolo was even embarrassed himself more when he said that 'THREE ASUU MEMBERS TESTIFIED AGAINST THE GOVERNOR' AT THE ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL'. According to the source,  members of Congress became more infuriated and thought Ongolo that the University system has intellectuals drawn from all works of life and that political affiliations of three members has no  bearing with the ISSUES IN DISPUTE between ASUU and the government.  

That they pointedly told Ongolo to inform the governor to pay the said THREE MONTHS OUT OF THE OUTSTANDING SIX MONTHS OWED THEM TO ENABLE THEM SETTLE SOME OF THEIR DEBTS AND HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SUSTAIN THEIR SERVICES AT NDU; POSITING THAT THE STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SUFFER AT HOME ANY LONGER. 

5. Sources said that the ONLY PROMISE from the governor was a promise to build a Senate building and that members of ASUU were very quick to remind the government delegation that what is immediate is payment of salaries and not a long term . One source was quoted as saying that 'it was very annoying that the government delegation made no single proposal for salary payment '