ASUU strike: Again, INEC raises alarm over 2019 election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, has again expressed concern on the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

He spoke on Friday in Abuja after the swearing-in of the new Secretary to the Commission, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

Yakubu warned of the implications on the 2019 general elections and disclosed that the commission would meet with union leaders in tertiary institutions for a way forward.

The INEC Chairman said that the ongoing strike was worrisome as the commission also sourced some of its election ad hoc staff from the tertiary institutions.

”The bulk of the ad hoc staff will be drawn from the National Youth Service Corps members but where there is shortfall, and obviously there would be shortfall, we rely on the universities.

”Remember we also rely on the universities to draw our collation and returning officers.

”So the ongoing strike is worrisome in case some of them say because of the ongoing strike they will not participate in the elections.

”But the ASUU has been good friend of the commission and we intend to meet with the President of the ASUU next week so that we can discuss and iron this out.

”We will also extend it to the lecturers of polytechnics and colleges of education so that we will meet with the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and all other unions in the tertiary education sub-sectors,” the chairman said.