August 20, (THEWILL) – Nigerian university lecturers under the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have again notified the Federal Government of their intention to embark on a nationwide strike over failure to honour existing agreements.
Arising from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Ibadan on Monday, the union issued a 21-day notice.
It emphasised that the notice is not an ultimatum but three weeks’ notice as required by labour law to embark on strike.
“It is not an ultimatum but a strike notice. We are giving them 21 days’ notice, after which we shall embark on strike.
“Our aim for putting out the notice is that it is a requirement under labour laws so we are trying to ensure that all our actions are done according to the law,” it said.
ASUU has reiterated its threat to strike due to the Federal Government’s failure to fulfil previously agreed-upon terms.
Despite a meeting with the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, on June 26 to address outstanding issues, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, confirmed that the government has not honoured its commitments.
Osodeke highlighted key issues contributing to the potential strike, including the government’s failure to implement the 2009 renegotiated agreements for over six years.
He also criticised the non-payment of academic allowances for the same period. Regarding the revitalisation fund, Osodeke noted that they had agreed on a Needs Assessment Report to secure N200 billion annually for five years.
Osodeke, who berated the government for the proliferation of universities, said new universities being approved lacked funds to run them.
“At the meeting called by the Minister of Education, we agreed that after two weeks, we will meet to see the progress the government has made. We will also see what we will do next if the government fails to implement the agreements reached.
“Since 2013, only one has been paid. We need revitalisation funds to upgrade our universities to standard so that we can have students and lecturers from outside the country,” he said.
