The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has notified the Federal Government of its intention to initiate a nationwide strike, issuing a 21-day notice.
Sources from ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) confirmed the decision to our correspondent in Abuja on Monday. The notice was given at the conclusion of a NEC meeting held at the University of Ibadan and is expected to be delivered to the Federal Ministries of Labour and Education.
“This is not an ultimatum, but a strike notice. We are providing the government with 21 days’ notice, after which we will proceed with the strike if necessary,” a source stated. “Our purpose in issuing the notice is to comply with labour laws and ensure our actions are lawful.”
It is important to note that ASUU had previously threatened to strike due to the non-implementation of agreements made with the federal government.
On June 26, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, invited the union to discuss ongoing issues affecting universities and to prevent the strike. However, ASUU National President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke reported that the agreements reached with the Federal Government had still not been implemented.
“At the meeting convened by the Minister of Education, we agreed to reconvene after two weeks to assess the government’s progress. We will determine our next steps if the agreements remain unfulfilled,” Osodeke explained.
Among ASUU’s demands is the implementation of the 2009 re-negotiated agreements, which have remained unaddressed for over six years. Osodeke also highlighted that academic allowances owed to members have accumulated over this period without resolution.
Regarding the revitalization fund, he mentioned that the Needs Assessment Report called for an annual allocation of N200 billion over five years. “Since 2013, only one payment has been made. We need these funds to upgrade our universities to attract international students and faculty,” he stated.
Osodeke further criticized the government’s approval of new universities without providing the necessary funding to operate them.
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