Falana Hopeful Of An End In Sight To ASUU Strike

By Olarewaju Falayi

The Lagos based legal luminary and Human Rights Activist, Barrister Femi Falana, SAN, has expressed the hope of an end in sight to the prolonged strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, in the Country which commenced early into the year 2022. 

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Falana gave the hope on Monday during an interview he granted at the launch of a book titled “Breaking Coconut With Your Head (Akowe’s Journey In Student Unionism) and written by Lanre Arogundade, the former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, as well as the Executive Director of the International Press Centre to mark his 60th birthday.

Femi Falana, who presided over the event as the Chairman of the occasion, while speaking with the press, further revealed that, “the current information at his disposal had shown that concerned stakeholders outside the government are working very hard to end the lingering strike action embarked upon by ASUU. He also states that he is aware, that on the part of the government, the demands of ASUU are being addressed”. 

Also, according to him, he said, “the leadership of the House of Representatives in Abuja has done marvellously well in the last few weeks by meeting all the stakeholders and taking their recommendations to the President”.

He however said that he has been assured that the President is already giving a serious consideration to the recommendations of the Academic Staff Union of Universities. In his own words, he added, “I can therefore say confidently that at the level of the government, and outside the government, efforts are been intensified to end the strike”. 

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“When he was asked, how soon, he responded by saying, as soon as possible, the strike will be called off”. 

Earlier during the programme, Falana thanked God for the life of Mr. Lanre Arogundade who saw him through all his travails and preserved him and his family for him to witness his 60th birthday after he had broken so many coconut head. 

“On many occasions, Lanre Arogundade has broken the coconut head. He was arrested by government and detained for asking questions and the State broke coconut on his head. He is lucky to be alive like I said”.

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He used the opportunity to advise all the genuine progressive forces in the Country to come together and mobilize the masses to take their political destiny in their own hand, saying the current status quo cannot safe the Country any further. 

He also lamented that the dream of the genuine progressives have been shattered by the irresponsible ruling class in the Country. 

He urged the activists in the Country to rededicate themselves to the cause of redeeming the country from total collapse. 

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