ASUU Strike Looming: 21-Day Notice Sent to Federal Government Over Unmet Agreements
ASUU plans a nationwide strike, giving the Federal Government 21 days' notice over unmet agreements. The strike could start if the issues remain unresolved. Continue reading for more details.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has notified the Federal Government of a 21-day strike notice.
This notice follows a recent NEC meeting held at the University of Ibadan.
The notice will be sent to the Federal Ministries of Labour and Education.
Key Points:
- Notice Period: ASUU clarified that this is a strike notice, not an ultimatum, giving the government 21 days to address their concerns.
- Legal Requirement: The notice aligns with labour laws, ensuring all actions are lawful.
- Unmet Agreements: ASUU had previously threatened to strike due to the non-implementation of agreements with the Federal Government.
On June 26, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, called a meeting with ASUU.
The meeting aimed to discuss ongoing issues in universities and prevent the strike.
ASUU’s Concerns:
- Unimplemented Agreements: The ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, mentioned that the government had not implemented the agreements reached.
- Two-Week Review: ASUU and the government agreed to review the progress in two weeks to determine the next steps.
- Non-Implementation of 2009 Agreements: These agreements have been pending for over six years, with no action taken.
- Accumulated Academic Allowances: Members’ academic allowances have not been paid for over six years.
- Revitalisation Fund: ASUU highlighted the need for N200 billion annually over five years, based on the Needs Assessment Report.
Only one payment has been made since 2013.
This fund is crucial to upgrading universities to attract international students and lecturers.
- Proliferation of Universities: ASUU criticised the approval of new universities without proper funding.
The 21-day notice issued by ASUU reflects their growing frustration with the government’s inaction.
The union remains firm in its demands for the implementation of agreements, payment of allowances, and adequate funding for universities.
The outcome of the review meeting in two weeks will likely determine whether ASUU proceeds with the planned strike.