ASUU: Federal Government Will Face Blame For Any Strike Action

ASUU: Federal Government Will Face Blame For Any Strike Action....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nsukka Zone, has expressed serious concerns regarding the Federal Government’s failure to address persistent issues within the nation’s university system, warning that a strike may soon follow if the situation does not improve. Zonal Coordinator Raphael Amokaha made this statement during a press release in Makurdi on Wednesday…….CONTINUE READING 

Amokaha noted that ASUU’s decision to refrain from industrial action since the suspension of the 2022 strike was an act of patriotism and selflessness. However, the ongoing neglect of the education sector by the Federal Government is leading ASUU to reconsider its stance on a potential strike.

“The Union has made significant efforts to prevent industrial disharmony in our public universities by pursuing amicable resolutions to the ongoing issues,” Amokaha stated. He reflected on the circumstances surrounding the 2022 strike, recalling that the government’s failure to honor a negotiated agreement forced the Union into action, as it had received a “take it or leave it” offer.

He emphasized that despite years of negotiations, progress on core issues affecting Nigerian universities has been minimal. “We were compelled to strike in 2022 because the government ignored our negotiated agreement. What options did our union have at that point? We spent over five years negotiating a revised agreement under three different government-appointed chairs, only for the government to reject it and issue a unilateral award,” he explained.

Amokaha lamented the ongoing decline of the nation’s universities, stating that conditions for both institutions and staff have remained stagnant for the past fifteen years. “All our efforts to halt the decay and revitalize our universities have been met with frustration by the government. Initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of our members have also been obstructed,” he added.

He pointed out that university workers are the only group in Nigeria that has not seen a salary review in over fifteen years. “We have consistently held press conferences, staged protests, and organized town hall meetings to avoid strikes and urge the government to take action. Unfortunately, all these efforts have been in vain,” he lamented.

Amokaha warned that unless the Federal Government engages sincerely with ASUU and takes immediate action to resolve the ongoing issues, the Union may have no choice but to strike. Key demands include the completion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft, the release of withheld salaries from the 2022 strike, and payment for unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.

Other demands involve the release of outstanding third-party deductions, funding for the revitalization of public universities as outlined in the 2023 Federal Government Budget, payment of Earned Academic Allowances, and addressing the proliferation of universities by both Federal and State Governments.

“The responsibility now lies with the government. If we go on strike, the blame will fall squarely on the Federal Government,” Amokaha concluded.

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