The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has insisted that its current strike whichvhas entered the 8th month would continue.
ASUU’s comments followed another deadlock in talks with the Federal Government.
The Abuja Zone of the union, on Monday asked the Federal Government to implement the extant agreements aimed at developing Nigeria’s education sector.
Abuja Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Theophilus Lagi, made the call at a news conference on Monday in Gwagwalada, Abuja, to press home the union’s demands.
The Zone comprises the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai, Federal University, Lafia, and University of Abuja.
Mr. Lagi called for renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, payment and mainstreaming of earned academic allowances into salaries, release of funds for revitalisation of the Nigerian university system, visitation panel to federal universities and proliferation of state universities among others.
According to him, in spite of the agitations with comprehensive and indefinite strikes to compel the federal government to address core demands of the union; it has however, not shown any commitment or willingness to address the issues.
“You would recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities declared a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike after an emergency NEC meeting on March 23, to compel the FG (Federal Government) to implement the MoA (Memorandum of Agreements) of February 7, 2019.
“To address issues of the Renegotiation of the 2009 agreement and provision of Revitalisation Fund to public universities, earned academic allowances, visitation panel to public universities and proliferation of state universities and governance.
“It is eight months into the national strike, yet the FG has not shown any commitment or willingness to address the core demands of our union.
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“As you are aware, at least three meetings have been held between our union and the mediation of the leadership of the National Assembly to resolve the issues in contention
The Lagos Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Olusiji Sowande, in a statement on Monday noted that the lackadaisical attitude of government towards funding education would make the strike linger.
Similarly, the Calabar Zone also insisted its eight-month-old strike will continue, stressing that, its members will not go back to the classes on empty stomachs.
The zonal chairman of the union, Dr. Aniekan Brown, said this at a briefing at the University of Calabar on Monday.
The briefing was attended by ASUU chairmen from universities in the zone which comprises Abia State University, Akwa Ibom State University, Cross River University of Technology, Alex Ekwueme University, Ebonyi, University of Uyo and University of Calabar.
“Sometimes, either by deliberate ill-intended machinations or for want of understanding, ASUU’s struggles are misunderstood. In the light of the above, it considered expedient to engage the public, to bring to the fore ASUU’s stance on the on-going strike action, and the government-induced distraction known as the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System and the Federal Government of Nigeria’s illicit commitment, hard-work, determination, and treachery to forcefully migrate staff of Federal Universities to IPPIS.”
