ASUU Issues 21-Day Strike Notice to Federal Government

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 21-day strike notice to the Federal Government, signaling a potential nationwide industrial action. This development was confirmed by sources within ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) after a meeting held at the University of Ibadan.

According to The Punch, the strike notice was issued as a formal requirement under labor laws, ensuring that ASUU’s actions comply with legal standards. The notice will be forwarded to the Federal Ministries of Labour and Education.

“It is not an ultimatum but a strike notice,” a source from NEC stated. “We are giving them 21 days, after which we shall embark on a strike if necessary.”

This announcement comes as ASUU continues to express dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s failure to implement agreements reached in previous negotiations. ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, highlighted ongoing grievances, including the non-implementation of the 2009 re-negotiated agreements, which have been unresolved for over six years.

Osodeke also noted that academic allowances owed to ASUU members have accumulated over the same period, with no action taken by the government. Additionally, the union has raised concerns about the revitalization fund meant to upgrade Nigerian universities, which has seen little progress since its inception. Despite an agreement to allocate N200 billion annually for five years, only one payment has been made since 2013.

In June, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, convened a meeting with ASUU to address these lingering issues. However, Osodeke reported that the government has yet to make significant progress on the agreed-upon measures.

ASUU’s notice raises the stakes in its ongoing dispute with the Federal Government, with the possibility of a nationwide strike looming if the government fails to meet the union’s demands within the 21-day period.