Blame the Government not us - ASUU Tells Students.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities Monday accused Federal Government of  failure to meet its demands as the union began a four-week strike action.

The National President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, during a press conference at the University of Lagos, Akoka, after the union’s National Executive Committee meeting disclosed that the Federal Government since its last meeting with the union in December, has not invited the union for any engagement in respect to the demands of the union. 

Osodeke said the union after its NEC meeting decided to to embark on “a four week-roll-over total and comprehensive strike action” beginning from Monday, 14th February, 2022.

Meanwhile, the decision of the union has spaked reactions from different state governments with some advising their lecturers against joining the strike action.

Some state governments argued that the dispute was between the union and the federal government adding that there was no written agreement between the union and the government. 

Justifying the decision of the union, Osodeke said - “Considering that the government has failed to fully implement the Memorandum of Action it signed with the ASUU on December 23, 2020; given that the draft report of the renegotiated 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement has been submitted for finalisation for more than nine months; and noting that the forceful payment of ASUU members’ salaries and emoluments with the integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System and non-adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution have continued to short-change our members, NEC resolved to embark on a four-week roll-over total and comprehensive strike action beginning from Monday, 14th February 2022.”

Osodeke said ASUU was patient enough but the Federal Government lackadaisical attitudes towards their demands necessitated the strike action. 

“Comrades and compatriots, it was a painful decision for NEC to arrive at the roll-over strike option. Contrary to the views canvassed in some quarters, our union loathes to disrupt academic activities on our campuses. We love our students and respect their parents and guardians. We are also not insensitive to the genuine concerns about stable academic calendar in public universities expressed by patriotic Nigerians and lovers of Nigeria. But the blame should be squarely put at the doorsteps of those who are ignored our patriotic yearnings for a development-oriented education in Nigeria.

“The patience of our members has been taxed beyond tolerable limits. We therefore seek the understanding and support of all stakeholders to make Nigerian government more responsive to issues of human capital development including health and education.” He said.