By kawaekwune Jeffrey
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has notified the federal government of its plan to commence a nationwide strike within the next 21 days. The formal notice, dated May 10, was delivered to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Education in Abuja, outlining the union’s demands over unresolved agreements and unpaid allowances.
A source within ASUU’s leadership confirmed the development to newsmen on Monday after a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Ibadan. According to the source, a formal copy of the notice will be sent to the relevant ministries, clarifying that this is not an ultimatum but a legal strike notice as required by law, which mandates a minimum of 21 days’ notice before a strike can commence.
It would be recalled that the ASUU has been locked in an ongoing dispute with the federal government over various unmet agreements, including the non-implementation of a re-negotiated 2009 agreements and an accumulation of unpaid academic allowances. Despite a meeting on June 26 between ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, and Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, no substantial progress has been made.
According to the Union, its grievances includes alleged government failure to fully release revitalisation funds promised to the country’s tertiary institutions. Out of the agreed N200 billion yearly for five years, only a fraction has been disbursed since 2013, said ASUU.
Recall also that ASUU’s last major strike was during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari which lasted eight months. That strike severely impacted negatively on the academic activities and calendar in Nigeria’s universities.
