Abuja, NIGERIA — The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially notified the Federal Government of its intention to commence a nationwide strike, placing the government on a 21-day notice.
This development follows a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU, held at the University of Ibadan on Monday. The union plans to send a formal notice to the Federal Ministries of Labour and Education.
Sources within the NEC clarified that this is not an ultimatum but a procedural strike notice, in compliance with labor laws. “We are providing a 21-day notice as required by law to ensure all actions are legally sound,” said an ASUU official.
This move comes after ASUU previously threatened strike action over the federal government’s failure to implement agreed-upon reforms. Earlier in June, Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman had convened a meeting with ASUU to address ongoing issues and prevent a strike. However, ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke reported that the agreements from this meeting have yet to be executed.
Osodeke noted that unresolved issues include the non-implementation of the 2009 re-negotiated agreements, which have been pending for over six years. Additionally, ASUU is concerned about the accumulation of academic allowances for its members, which have also been outstanding for more than six years.
One significant demand is the release of the revitalization fund. ASUU had agreed on a Needs Assessment Report to allocate N200 billion annually over five years to upgrade universities. Since 2013, only one installment of this fund has been paid.
Osodeke also criticized the ongoing proliferation of universities, highlighting that many new institutions are being established without adequate funding for their operation.
ASUU’s decision to issue a strike notice underscores the persistent frustration with the federal government’s handling of higher education issues and signals a potential escalation if the demands are not met.
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