The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has signaled a potential nationwide strike due to the federal government’s failure to address their longstanding demands.
During a press briefing at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on May 21, Prof. Adelaja Odukoya, the Lagos zone coordinator, expressed the union’s dwindling patience with the government’s indifference to the concerns of educators and public universities.
The union’s leaders, who convened at UNILAG, have put forth an ultimatum: the federal government must act swiftly to avert the impending strike.
This announcement follows the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at Obafemi Awolowo University from May 11 to 12, 2024.
Prof. Odukoya outlined the union’s grievances, including unresolved issues from the renegotiated 2009 Agreement, unpaid salaries and academic allowances, and the controversial IPPIS deductions.
He criticized the government’s policies that have deteriorated living and working conditions, particularly in universities.
The union has dismissed the government’s ‘no work, no pay’ stance as inconsistent with international labor laws to which Nigeria is a signatory.
Furthermore, ASUU has challenged the legality of the newly appointed governing councils for federal universities, demanding their recall to honor the University Act.
ASUU remains steadfast in its call for adequate funding of existing public universities to improve their capacity and global competitiveness, rather than establishing new ones.
The union is committed to continuing its fight for the enhancement of public university education in Nigeria.
