The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may declare a strike if ongoing disputes with the Nigerian government remain unresolved.
Many sources familiar with the developments told Reporters that while lecturers would not want to embark on another strike, industrial action may be imminent given the lack of progress with the government.
We would prefer no strike action but we won’t hesitate to declare one. What we have been saying is that the government should do the right thing but that has not happened till now, a source disclosed.
On how soon a strike may be declared, the ASUU’s local chapters are awaiting directives from the national executives to hold a referendum.
On the strike action, we are waiting for the directives from our national executives to hold a referendum at the local level on strike actions,” another source added
It had earlier being reported that ASUU warned Nigerians to brace for another round of paralysis in the nation’s universities, insisting that the Nigerian government should be held responsible for any imminent crisis.
The Benin Zone of ASUU issued the warning on Monday during a press conference at Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State.
Prof. Monday Igbafen, the Zonal Coordinator, speaking on behalf of the union leaders in the zone, he said, Nigerian Scholars remained the most marginalized group despite their critical role in national Development
We want to tell Nigerians not to hold ASUU responsible, but hold the Federal Government responsible for the paralysis that will be done to Nigerian universities in few days to come,” Igbafen declared.
The Benin Zone comprises the University of Benin; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Delta State University, Abraka; Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun; University of Delta, Agbor; Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba; and Southern Delta University, Ozoro.
According to him, the government’s insincerity and refusal to honour agreements reached with the union have left lecturers with no option but to consider shutting down the system again.
Since the suspension of our last strike action in October 2022, the Federal Government is yet to make good its promise to actualise the review of our dismal conditions of service.
It is yet to sign the draft renegotiated 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, which our Union views as a significant milestone in the resolution of the issues at hand, he said.
He also added that the government’s failure to pay arrears of promotion entitlements, its refusal to release withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries and third-party deductions, as well as the continued neglect of adequate funding for education, had enhanced the frustration of lecturers across the country.
