ASUU Names Secretariat After Former Chairman Iyayi

The National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has resolved to establish a foundation in honour of Professor Festus Iyayi who died during the 2013 six months strike embarked upon by the union.

The union also disclosed that it would name its national secretariat complex located within the precinct of the University of Abuja after the late activist and former boss of the union.

Iyayi was on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 killed in a car crash on his way to Kano to participate in the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the body billed to put an end to the then over four-month-old strike.

ASUU's position to immortalise Iyayi was contained in its resolution after its week-long conference held at the University of Ibadan.

The Iyayi foundation, according to ASUU, would have components such as scholarships for indigent students, publications and literary awards.

The resolution, which was signed by the National President of the union, Dr Nasir Fagge Isa, also condemned the imposition of tuition fees by the Obafemi Awolowo University administration on students and their parents.

To this end, ASUU directed its members in OAU to ensure the reversal of the new imposed fees, describing it as a violation of ASUU's standing principle.

The union therefore warned against the commercialisation of education which it argued is a public good.

"University education must be seen as public good. Something which anyone can consume as much as desired without reducing the amount available for others and individuals should not be prevented from consuming it whether or not the individual can pay for it. The unity, security and development of our country depend on the quality and effectiveness of our university education. This must not be mortgaged on the altar of market forces and/or spurious loan conditionalities."