STRIKE: ASUU postpones NEC meeting over President's death

Former National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Festus Iyayi, died in an accident yesterday afternoon in a fatal auto crash that occurred in Lokoja while travelling to Kano for the Union’s Executive meeting slated for today Wednesday 13th of November 2013.Iyayi, a professor of Business Administration and Head of the Department of Business Administration, University of Benin, died at 66.

His death made ASUU to postpone its National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for the Bayero University, Kano to discuss the position of its over 50 branches on the offer made to the union by the Federal Government.

Iyayi, a member of the negotiating team of ASUU, was travelling to Kano in company with the Benin Zonal Coordinator of the union, Dr. Sunny Iyalo; the National Welfare Officer, Dr. Ngozi Ilo, and the University of Benin Chairman of ASUU, Dr. Anthony Monye-Emina, for the NEC meeting when the accident happened.

Following the sudden death of its former president, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has hereby postponed its today’s decider meeting to a later date.

In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, Special Adviser, Media and Strategy to the Kogi State Governor, Mr. Jacob Edi said the accident occurred when the vehicle conveying the ASUU officials was trying to avoid a trailer and in the process rammed into the last vehicle in Governor Wada’s convoy.

He said, “We know that when a human life is lost, it will not be fair to play politics. Truly, there was an accident. The bus which was conveying the ASUU members was trying to avoid a trailer and in the process collided with the last escort vehicle in the governor’s convoy.

“The Lokoja-Abuja Expressway right now is under construction. That road is very narrow. It is unfortunate that we have to exchange words on an issue like this. But when the collision occurred, the governor stopped and directed the medical team in the ambulance which was part of the convoy to attend to the victims.

“As soon as the governor got to Lokoja and was fully briefed on the situation, he quickly went to the Federal Medical Centre where the ASUU victims were hospitalised to sympathise with them and take care of their welfare.”

The special adviser also said, “The governor has also ordered an investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the accident because he is very bitter and pained by this development.”

He added, “No human being will be happy with the loss of the life of a fellow human being.