By Olanrewaju Olusegun
There are strong indications that the National Executive Committee of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may declare an indefinite strike today following the failure of the Federal Government to meet their demands.
ThisNigeria learnt late yesterday that the two-day meeting of the union executives at the University of Lagos, Akoka, will make their position known today.
As of 10.30pm yesterday, the meeting was still ongoing, but there was an unconfirmed report that the strike would take effect from today, February 14.
The union had in the last few months expressed grievances over the failure of the Federal Government to fulfil some of the agreements it made as far back as 2009. ASUU had on November 15, 2021, given the Federal Government a three-week ultimatum over the failure to meet the demands.
The lecturers threatened to embark on another round of industrial action following the alleged “government’s unfaithfulness” in the implementation of the Memorandum of Action it signed with the union, leading to the suspension of the 2020 strike action.
After the union’s National Executive Council meeting at the University of Abuja on November 13 and 14,
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, lamented that despite meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, on October 14, 2021, on issues, including funding for revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution, promotion arrears, renegotiation of 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, and the inconsistencies in Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system payment, none of its demands had been met.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students has called on the Federal Government and varsity lecturers to reach a common ground to avert the strike by ASUU.
The Coordinator of NANS in the South-West, Olatunji Adegboye, said this in a statement yesterday. He said students and the entire nation had not recovered fully from the effect of the ASUU strike in 2021.
The students called on the FG to show more seriousness in the education sector, saying no nation could develop more than the level of its investment in the sector.
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The statement read, “The Federal Government has never achieved an exhaustive implementation of Memorandums of Understanding signed between the government and leadership of ASUU.
“Oftentimes, what usually transpires is the government looking to hurriedly avert an industrial action without being committed to terminating the root cause? Things may irredeemably fall apart if the usual ‘modus operandi’ is retained.
“It is critical that President Muhammadu Buhari quickly work and walk the talk over education. President Buhari should demonstrate competency and pro-activeness by solving the educational quagmire of the country. This can be achieved through the absolute implementation of the already signed MoU.
“Most importantly, the imminent ASUU strike must be averted at all cost while a more sustainable solution is proffered, analysed, adopted, and implemented speedily by the presidency. This is expedient in order not to make a mockery of our entire educational system.
“We also call on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to cooperate with the Federal Government to find a more suitable resolution other than another industrial action.
“This should be keenly considered as another national academic shutdown will neutralize many of the sacrifices and efforts of our dear lecturers.”
