The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) National Executive Council (NEC) will make its decision on whether or not to extend the union’s nearly six-month strike on Sunday night or Monday morning.
Remember that the current ASUU strike began on February 14 and was extended three weeks ago for an additional four weeks. It will now end on Monday, August 29, 2022.
Release of funding for university revitalization, revision of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, payment of earned allowances for university lecturers, and implementation of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution are all demands made by the union (UTAS).
Following a meeting with the union last week, Adamu Adamu, the minister of education, declared that all of the union’s demands had been met with the exception of the fact that its members would not be receiving arrears from the strike period.
Additionally, the union has emphasised that the strike won’t end until the outstanding debt is paid.
The 123 branches of the organisation have already finished holding their congresses. According to reports, the congresses voted to extend the strike should the federal government persevere on withholding payment for arrears.
The NEC meeting, which is scheduled for today or tomorrow morning, is expected to be pivotal. It could decide whether the government suspends the union, as is rumoured in some circles.
It was learned that parents and students are keenly interested in the resolution of the lecturers’ strike.
On social media where many have aired their opinions, they appealed to the university teachers to give peace a chance, resume dialogue with the Federal Government, and return to classrooms.
However, a final decision on whether to call off the strike or extend it will be reached at the NEC Meeting
According to Vanguard, a member of NEC, who is also a Zonal Chairman of the union, stated that the members are ready for whatever steps the government takes on the issue.
“We are no strangers to government threatening to ban our union. It happened a number of times during the military period and we outlived those regimes. We are fighting a just cause. If the education sector in the country becomes better, we will all benefit. The people in government are not bothered with what happens to the sector because their children are not schooling here.
“I would not say this is what our decision will be because we have to collate opinions from our various branches that conducted congresses some days ago and whatever the majority says will be done. If the majority opinion goes for a continuation of the strike and the government takes any step, we will react appropriately, “ he said.
Should the union go for a strike extension after the meeting, it may leave it as the only union in the university system that is still on strike.
Others, namely the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, have suspended their actions for a few months to allow the Federal Government look into their demands.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has begged ASUU to consider whatever offers government presents in the interest of students.
NANs National President, Sunday Asefon, said it would not support the union if it continues the industrial action. “Let them have pity on students that have been at home for months. If the strike is not called off, we won’t support the union in this fight again. Let them make concessions and live to fight another day,” he said.
