Nigerians urge the academic union to resume negotiations to end nearly five months of university strikes.
prominent member of Nigeria's academic workers' union suddenly died just as leaders appeared ready to put an end to the months-long strike that has shuttered universities across the country.
Festus Iyayi was killed in a car crash on the way to an Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) leadership meeting. His vehicle was struck by a convoy that allegedly belonged to Kogi state governor Idris Wada. Three others involved in the crash are said to be in critical condition. The ASUU meeting has reportedly been suspended following Iyayi's death.
The National Executive Council planned to debate a final resolution after President Goodluck Jonathan personally intervened to lead government negotiations with the ASUU. Many Nigerians expected the meeting would finally bring an end to the nearly five-month long strike that brought 60 public universities to a halt, put tens of thousands of university students out of school, and delayed many graduations.
Iyayi, a prominent education activist who was persistent on revitalising the academic system, recently told The Guardian Nigeria that ASUU's strikes will only be suspended if all their demands are met.
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