FACT CHECK: DID ASUU RELEASE AN ONLINE POLL TO SEEK PUBLIC OPINION?

By: Usman Mustopha


The rumour about the online Twitter handle of the Academic Staff Union of the University(ASUU)  seeking  opinion of the public on whether or not to call off the strike has been debunked by the  ASUU Chairman, Usmanu Danfodiyo University,Chapter, Dr Abubakar Sabo



The Twitter poll asking for the public  opinion of the public was released a day after the meeting between ASUU and Federal Government, held on 7th of Jan, 2018.
The handle bears the name: Official_Asuu @ASUUNGR. While confirming the source of the handle, another Twitter account was found with a similar name (ASUU Nigeria, @ASUUnigeria) to the aforementioned one.

The lecturers have on November 5, 2018 embarked on strike and all the attempts made by the federal government and Nigeria students to put an end to the industrial action proved abortive



However, in a telephone interview with the Chairman, ASUU  UDUS branch, Dr Abubakar  Sabo, he jettisoned the media handle to be fake and outrage.
"It is not true, the union has modalities for embarking as well as calling off a strike. The online poll is not one of them. So discard this as a rumour"


He further explained the processes and modalities of the Union for taking decision,he said:


"The National committee of ASUU will articulate the proposal and get it across all branches, for their own recommendations and approval before any decision is taken".


It took us three months of trips, before the commencement of the strike, so, if any decision will be taken, every branch will have a say, not on twitter or any other social networks". He explained.


For the latest proposal from the Federal Government, Dr Sabo said that all the branches have to meet on Thursday, 11th at Zonal level before taking any decision.
"The federal government has presented us an offer, we are to meet on 10th of this month at our zonal level before going back to our branches.


He further explained that after the meeting at the zonal level, the chairman of each branch will call for Congress for members to offer suggestions and recommendations.
He said:
"Before any resolution is made, the Head of each branch will tender their suggestion and recommendations made by her members to the National before taking final decision to the Federal government"



On whether the Union has any social networks, Dr Sabo clarified it that, the union has no media platform, he said;

" The Union has no official twitter account,  Whatsapp or Facebook. Anything you see on those platforms should be considered as rumour, because students or other people like you created it on a purpose, best known to them"


He noted that, "there have been updates from the National every week, the Strike bulletin is passed weekly to remind members on the processes and modalities of the strike.

He however urged the public to debunk any information on social Media as none of the Union decision is shared on social networks.


Another findings by PEN PRESS revealed that, the released twitter poll tagged to the Union's name, has been disparaged by the 8th strike bulletin passed this week. The Strike bulletin, No 8 clearly states that:

"Authentic information can only be given by the head of every university branch and from the National Secretariat.

" Members are reminded  that authentic information about the Union's struggles to save the Nigeria public universities from total collapse shall only be obtained from branch chairperson and the National Secretariat"


It adds that :
"Members must disregard any information unverified or unauthenticated by the Union "