The Academic Staff Union of Universities has directed its members nationwide to commence a one-week warning strike with effect from Wednesday, November 16 (tomorrow) to protest the non-implementation of its 2009 agreement with the Federal Government.
According to ASUU, the strike action will be “total and comprehensive”, adding that while it lasted, there would be no teaching, examinations and attendance of meetings in any of its branches.
The union said it would be going on strike over part payment of salaries, non-payment of subventions and the inability of the Federal Government to provide funds for the revitalisation of public varsities, among other reasons.
The union also accused government of allegedly turning the establishment of universities into constituency projects to score a political point.
The National President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, while unfolding the plans for the protest, at a press conference after its emergency National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, on Monday, said several efforts to get the government to respect the terms of their agreement had been unsuccessful.
Ogunyemi said, “Our members across the nation are worried that six months after the meeting with the minister of education and a series of letters to amplify the need to respect the spirit and letters of the 2009 agreement and the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding, there has been no tangible results of the issues raised.
“This failure puts ASUU leadership in a severe difficulty responding to enquiries from members of the union about the state of affairs in our engagement with the Federal Government. Following a nationwide consultation with our members, the NEC of ASUU rose from its meeting on Sunday, November 13 with a resolution to embark on a one- week warning strike starting from Wednesday November 16 2016.
“The nationwide strike action is total and comprehensive. While it lasts, there shall be no teaching, no examination and no attendance of statutory meeting of any kind in any of our branches.”
He also said the licensing of more universities by the National Universities Commission will not solve the challenge of quality education.
Source: Punch
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