The ASUU strike in 2013 continues, and the latest news is that union leaders allegedly assaulted journalists who were waiting for an update from the union’s National Executive Committee meeting on Monday.
After union leaders emerged from the meeting, they spotted the journalists, and shouted “who invited these stupid people.”
The leaders told security guards to remove journalists from the building at the Federal University of Technology in Minna.
UPDATE: ASUU Strike is Finally Called Off
Daily Trust correspondent Aliyu Hamagan was mistaken for a union member, though, and beckoned forth by union leader Dr. Abdulfatai Jimoh.
Jimoh asked Hamagan: “Who brought this stupid people inside? What are they doing here?”
Hamagan responded: “I am one of the people you are calling stupid. I will not have you insult us like that.”
Jimoh reacted, reported the Punch, pushing Hamagan and telling him “You people are intruding, we did not invite you. Get out of this place now.”
The meeting began at 11:30 a.m. and was held until at least 7 p.m. It was moved to Monday from Wednesday, and was held because the union is close to ending the strike after reaching a deal with the federal government.
Upon hearing of the alleged assaults, the university’s vice chancellor, professor Musbau Akanji, rushed over and told the journalists: “Although, I am not a part of the meeting, but I am apologizing on their behave because they are in my territory. This place (FUT, Minna) is a Federal Government institution, and it is a public place that everybody including journalists can enter especially when they are discharging their responsibilities.”
Some union leaders were reportedly fine with the presence of the journalists and wanted them to stay.
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