ASUU to announce total strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has resolved to go on a month-long "comprehensive and total" strike to push its demands from the Federal Government.

In an exclusive report, Premium Times says the union’s inner caucus, described as the "NEC for NEC" (National Executive Council) arrived at this decision at about 3 am on Monday, 14th February 2022.

According to the Premium Times source, who was part of the meeting, the union took the decision “reluctantly” despite interventions by many prominent Nigerians.

He said the decision was to save Nigeria’s university system considering what he described as the deteriorating state of Nigerian universities. He said government’s alleged recalcitrance made the position unavoidable.

'The indefinite and total strike is for four weeks . We hope government would do the needful within the next four weeks",' the source said in a terse statement shared with the news publication's reporter on Monday morning.

ASUU had scheduled a meeting it tagged “NEC for NEC” for midnight on Sunday to take the final decision on behalf of the various congresses of its chapters.

The meeting was a follow-up to the then ongoing two-day marathon meeting, which kicked off on Saturday at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.

ASUU rounded off its “NEC for NEC” meeting at about 3 a.m on Monday when the branch chairman of the union in UNILAG, Dr. Dele Ashiru, confirmed that the national President, Emmanuel Osodeke, would address the media by 9 a.m. on Monday.

Ashiru, whose note was tagged; “ASUU Press conference,” said he was inviting journalists on behalf of the national leadership of the union.

The note reads in part; “Dear colleague, good morning Ma\Sir. Pls ASUU’s NEC media briefing now to hold as follows; Date: MONDAY, Feb 14; Time: 9.00am; Venue… Tayo Aderinokun Auditorium, Behind Faculty of Law, University of Lagos.”

He apologised for the short notice.

Ashiru, however, did not hint of the union’s final decision as he refused to pick follow-up calls from our reporter.

The lecturers’ union entered into an agreement with the Federal Government several years ago. Tagged "ASUU/FG 2009 agreement", the demands include the sustainability of the university autonomy, which the union said the introduction of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for the payment of its emoluments violates. The union seeks its replacement with its own University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

Other demands include the endorsement of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, which it said was concluded in May, 2021; release of the reports of visitation panels to federal universities and distortions in salary payment challenges.

ASUU also demands funding for revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowance, improved funding of state universities and promotion arrears.