Why we’re embarking on total, indefinite strike – ASUU

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given reasons why it decided to embark on what it described as a “comprehensive, total and indefinite” after seven months of intermittent warning strike.

In a statement on Tuesday signed by Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU President, said the new measure was taken because of its dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s response to its demands.

The demands of the striking lecturers include issues bordering on funding of universities, salaries and earned allowances of lecturers, among others.

Osodeke said that the meeting was called to review developments since its last resolution that rolled over the nationwide strike action for another four weeks starting from Aug 1.

“In view of the foregoing, and following extensive deliberations on government’s response to the resolution of Feb. 14, 2022, so far, NEC concluded that the demands of the union had not been satisfactorily addressed.

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“Consequently, NEC resolved to transmute the roll-over strike to a comprehensive, total, and indefinite strike action beginning from 12.01 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022,’’ he said.

According to him, NEC observed with regret that the union has experienced a lot of deceit of the highest level in the last five and half years as the Federal Government engaged ASUU in fruitless and unending negotiation without a display of utmost fidelity.

Osodeke said that ASUU and other well-meaning Nigerians had expressed serious disappointment and consternation on the attitude of the government conveyed by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu.

He said that for the avoidance of doubt, however, none of the issues that forced the union to resume the suspended strike as listed in the December 2020 FGN-ASUU Memorandum of Action (MoA) had been satisfactorily addressed by the government to date.

“The White Papers on Visitation Panels to federal universities, if ready as claimed by the government more than six months ago, are nowhere to be found,” he said.

“NEC was utterly disappointed in agents of government, especially the Minister of Education, for the deliberate falsehood and misrepresentation of facts aimed at scoring cheap political gains.

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“It is disheartening to imagine that a minister whose responsibility it is to resolve the crisis can overnight turn round to lead in this ignoble enterprise of distorting facts and misleading Nigerians,’’ he said.

He said ASUU strikes were aimed at saving public education, and ensuring that governments (Federal and State) use “our common patrimony to support quality public university education. This is our collective obligation.”

He said NEC acknowledged with appreciation past and current efforts by eminent Nigerians and groups to mediate in the lingering crisis.

He said that ASUU would remain focused on the full implementation of the Dec. 23, 2020 Memorandum of Action for quick restoration of industrial harmony in Nigeria’s public universities.