The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has vowed that it will not succumb to the Federal government's pressure to call off its ongoing strike.

The union said the Federal government has resorted to blackmail, intimidation and propagation of falsehood to the public instead of making sincere efforts at resolving the lingering crisis.

The coordinator of the Lagos zone of ASUU, Prof. Olusiji Sowande disclosed this to journalists shortly after the meeting of members of the union at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state.

Sowande said the union embarked on the strike to ensure the survival of public universities in Nigeria and sustenance of university autonomy and not for personal interest.

Sowande said the union's grouse with the government bothered on government’s reluctance to fulfil the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement bothering on provision of funds for the revitalization of dilapidating infrastructure, payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), setting up of Visitation Panels for the purpose of accountability and good governance of public Universities.

The union insisted that the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) by the Federal government violate the autonomy of universities and is targeted at crippling university education in Nigeria.

Sowande explained that the union rejected IPPIS because the appointment of Vice-chancellors and lectures would be subjected to the approval of the Accountant-General of the Federal and the Head of Service of Federation.