JUST IN: Nationwide Strike Imminent, ASUU Warns

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the potential for a nationwide strike due to the federal government’s ongoing failure to address its demands. This announcement comes despite repeated appeals from the union.

At a news conference held on Tuesday, May 21, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Adelaja Odukoya, the coordinator of the Lagos zone of ASUU, expressed the union’s frustration with the government’s perceived insensitivity towards the issues affecting public universities and their staff.

Prof. Odukoya, speaking on behalf of all union branch leaders in attendance, stated that the union’s patience is wearing thin and a strike is imminent unless the federal government takes immediate action to meet their demands. These demands include the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement, payment of owed salaries and earned academic allowances (EAA), and the rectification of issues caused by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The union’s decision follows deliberations at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on May 11 and 12. During this meeting, the union critically reviewed the outcomes of its engagements with the government and assessed the deteriorating conditions in Nigerian universities.

Prof. Odukoya highlighted several unresolved issues, including the improper constitution of new governing councils for federal universities and the proliferation of universities without adequate funding. He dismissed the government’s threat of a ‘no work, no pay’ policy, stating it is not recognized by global labor laws to which Nigeria is a signatory.

ASUU continues to advocate for better funding and enhancement of existing public universities to make them globally competitive, rather than establishing new institutions.

The union remains steadfast in its commitment to improving the state of public university education in Nigeria, emphasizing that a nationwide strike is a last resort unless the government urgently addresses their concerns.