Ahmad Isah, host of Brekete Family radio and television talk show, has suspended his proposed N20 billion Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) crowdfunding initiative aimed at resolving the lingering crisis between the union and the Federal Government.
Popularly known as Ordinary President, Isah announced the suspension of the initiative in Abuja on Saturday.
The announcement followed the decision of ASUU not to recognise the initiative. ASUU president Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke was at the radio station on Saturday.
Isah urged ASUU not to hold the government to ransom, revealing that Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom donated N50 million for the cause.
He said that the target was to raise N20 billion so that people of integrity would be nominated as trustees.
According to him, the money will be handed over to the trustees, who will in turn give it to the Federal Government for onward transfer to the union to end the lingering strike.
“I don’t know what will be the next action. I have suspended the crowd funding. After thinking it over, and if there is need for me to revisit it, I will but if not, I will refund everybody’s money and I will withdraw the N10 million I have contributed,” Isah said.
Osodeke noted that the decision to dissociate from the intervention fund was because decisions made at the union was from bottom to top, hence members would have to resolve whether they agree or not.
“ASUU’s decision are taken bottom-up. We have not discussed it and if the organisation says go ahead, then I can participate,” he said.
ASUU strike began since February. The lecturers’ demands include funding for the revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowances among others.
