Academic Staff Union of Universities in Nigeria (ASUU), yesterday declared a “total and comprehensive indefinite” strike following federal government’s failure to fulfil the agreement reached with the union in 2009
Briefing journalists after an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council held at the University of Abuja, ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, said the industrial action began Sunday, August 13.
He said during the period, there would be no teaching, examination or attendance of statutory meeting of any kind in any of ASUU’s branches till government meets the union’s demands.
Some of the issues raised in the renewed industrial action include; the 2009 agreement and
2013 MoU, funding for the revitalisation of public universities; earned academic allowances; registration of Nigerian universities pension management company and pension matters; university staff school, fractionalisation and non payment of salaries, among others.
The union called on Nigerians to prevail on owners of public universities to be alive to their responsibilities.
Ogunyemi said the Wale Babalakin-led negotiation committee, lacked powers to resolve the issues as there were unimplemented items in the 2009 Agreement.
“Issues outside Babalakin’s negotiation committee are what we are discussing. We are saying that government did not continue the implementation of the existing issues from 2009 federal government – ASUU agreement. Government has abandoned implementation,” he said.
Ogunyemi said government had ignored the education system, while the political class sends their wards to private universities and universities abroad, leaving public universities in Nigeria to collapse.
“Primary and secondary school system has already collapsed in Nigeria, but not all Nigerians have the funds to send their wards to private schools.”
He said for continued productivity, employers must fulfil the minimal obligation of paying their workers’ salaries correctly as and when due.
“Our members in state universities have experienced untold hardship owing to denial of salaries for several months in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUTECH); Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), and Ekiti State University (EKSU), among several others.
“A deliberate attempt to turn Nigerian academics to beggars and people of unsure footing, must therefore be resisted by all who care about the future of our children and the transformation of our country.”
Similarly, the immediate past president of the union, Nasir Fagge, said the re-negotiation agreement should have been done before now if the nation seeks to develop the education sector
“Other countries invest lots on education. In Somalia, for instance, the huge chunk of allocation goes to education. If the government is interested in the development of a country, it will be interested in education,” he said.
Ebonyi chapter to consult
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) chapter of the union has said it would hold its congress tomorrow to determine the next line of action.
Chairman of the union, Dr Uche Onwe, disclosed this to Blueprint on the telephone yesterday in Abakaliki.
“We are just coming back from a meeting of the National Congress of ASUU in Abuja; we have not taken any final decision on the matter. The Congress will meet on Wednesday,” he said.
When our correspondent visited the institution, normal academic activities were in progress, as students were seen receiving lectures in their lecture halls.
A lecturer at the College of Health Sciences of the University, who pleaded anonymity, said he had just received Notice of Congress Meeting from the union scheduled for tomorrow.
He said the congress would take final decision which, according to him, would be binding on all and sundry.
Academic activities paralysed in UI
At the University of Ibadan, ASUU members joined the strike, thus paralysing academic activities in the institution.
Following the development, the ongoing Master’s examinations in some faculties at the university, particularly those scheduled to hold at the Faculty of Social Sciences, were hurriedly cancelled.
Also, students in the Department of Psychology, scheduled to start their examinations were also turned back.
As early as 8.30 am, news of the strike had spread round the university campus as the ASUU members were reported to be on alert, having voted in favour of the strike at its referendum last week.
And when the directive came to that effect, Chairman of the UI local chapter, Dr. Deji Omole, conveyed the union’s resolve to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Idowu Olayinka, in an email.
Omole stated that the strike will be “total, comprehensive and indefinite beginning from Sunday 13, August, 2017.”
“We, therefore, write to inform you that the observance of the strike action will include: No teaching, no examination, no supervision, no attendance of the statutory meetings of any kind and other academic matters. In line with the national directive of the union, our members will henceforth, withdraw their services till the end of the strike” he said
Speaking during an interview, Dr Omole stated that the strike will have full enforcement from tomorrow (today) after briefing the congress.
He said the union had waited for the federal government to do the needful, but wondered why government has been deceiving the university teachers.
The varsity don lamented the withholding of the License of the Nigerian University Pension Company (NUPEMCO) and the N1billion of the union since three years ago.
