Strike: ASUU To Discipline Members For Visiting, Collecting Gifts From Orji Uzor Kalu

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUAU, chapter, disowned its members that visited the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Orji Uzor Kalu.

It was learned that some members of the union had visited the politician who reportedly gave them some palliative to share and also urged them to shelf the ongoing strike.

MOUAU ASUU, however, has immediately disassociated itself from such meeting and deliberation saying it was unaware of the invitation and will hence punish members who availed themselves at Kalu’s premises to collect some palliative.

The union, in a statement issued yesterday, in Umuahia, dissociated itself from the said visit, which it said it was not privy to and never authorized.

The statement was jointly signed by the Chairman, Professor Michael Ugwuene, and Secretary, Paul Nwiyi, the branch vowed to probe the said visit and discipline those found culpable.

The statement said: “ASUU MOUAU hereby dissociates itself from the aforementioned visit and the consequent palliative sharing.”

It further read: “The attention of ASUU MOUAU, has been drawn to reports in the media about the visit by some academic staff of MOUAU to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu at his Igbere home, where according to the reports, the striking lecturers” were given palliatives and enjoined to end the strike.

“The public is hereby enjoined to take notice that ASUU MOUAU was not aware of, was not invited, and did not authorize or approve any such visit and did not request for, neither did it receive any palliatives from Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

“ASUU MOUAU, hereby assures the National Executive Council of ASUU that the branch is investigating the visit and the members of the branch found culpable shall be subjected to the disciplinary process of the union.”

Meanwhile, the union, in a separate statement, rejected the proposed 35 percent and 25 percent salary increases for professors and other ranks, respectively.