We’re ready for the ‘mother of all strikes’ — ASUU
We’re ready for the ‘mother of all strikes’ — ASUU
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has cautioned that it is prepared to embark on what it calls the “mother of all strikes” should the Federal Government fail to honor the 2009 agreements signed with the union.
The University of Calabar (Unical) chapter issued this warning on Tuesday during a press conference in Calabar, ahead of the union’s pivotal national meeting slated for August 28.
Unical chapter chairman, Dr Peter Ubi, said the Federal Government had consistently failed to honour agreements designed to improve standards in the university system, leaving the union with no choice but to resort to industrial action.
“The government made promises on these issues, and regrettably, we are here today to inform the Nigerian public that these undisputed issues have not been resolved for several years now.
“ASUU has tried several ways and strategies of resolving the conflict in the education sector. Unfortunately, the government, in its characteristics, has paid deaf ears to our demands and has constantly pushed our union to embark on a strike,” he said.
ASUU’s demands include the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, sustainable funding and revitalisation of universities, payment of the outstanding 25–35 per cent wage award, three months’ salary arrears, over four years of promotion arrears, and the non-remittance of third-party deductions.
Ubi emphasized that the strike would begin immediately once the national leadership issues a directive after its meeting.
The union further urged the government to extend the moratorium on establishing new universities to cover private institutions as well, while commending the Federal Government’s recent decision to halt the creation of additional federal tertiary institutions.
“We currently have 72 federal universities and 159 private universities, making a total of 339 across the country. This gives each state, including the FCT, an average of nine universities, not counting polytechnics and colleges of education. We are appealing for the moratorium to also apply to private universities,” Ubi stated.
It will be recalled that last week, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a seven-year suspension on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, citing overstretched resources, underutilized institutions, and falling academic standards. However, despite the suspension, FEC also approved the creation of nine new universities after a presentation by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
