ASUU Finally Declares Strike

Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU has finally declared a fresh comprehensive strike after keeping Nigerians, particularly parents and students in suspense for two days over the union's decision.

President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke who announced  the strike at a press conference on Monday in Lagos, revealed that the Industrial action which commences the same day, February 14, 2022 would last for an initial period of four weeks.

Members of the union’s National Executive Council had in the last two days since Saturday, held marathon meetings at the University of Lagos titled, ‘NEC for NEC', where they reached the decision to embark

Before declaration of the strike, ASUU had sensitised and mobilised lecturers and students across all universities on the reason the union might likely go on strike.

Edu-Biznews recalled that the union had earlier embarked one day lecture free day last week, to send a warning notice to the presidency over the intention of the lecturers to go on Indefinite strike ,if government fails to implement the Memorandum of Action  reached with it, leading to suspension of the 2020 strike action in December, which last for several months 

The union had expressed grievances over the failure of the Federal Government to fulfil some of the agreements it made as far back as 2009, calling on religious leaders and other prominent Nigerians to prevail on the government to honour the agreements with ASUU 

ASUU later  on November 15, 2021, gave  the federal government a three-week ultimatum over the failure to meet the demands

The union’s National Executive Council led by its president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke then held a meeting at the University of Abuja on November 13 and 14, where ASUU  decried non- implementation'of the demands including  the revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution; promotion arrears, renegotiation of 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, and the inconsistencies in Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System Payment 

The meeting was a follow-up to the 14th of October, 2021 with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige which failed to address the demands of the Lecturers

A few weeks after, ASUU suspended the planned strike, as N22.1 billion earned allowances were paid to lecturers in federal universities.

When the union’s renewed agitations, the co-chairmen of the National Inter-religious Council, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar III, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, visited President Muhammadu Buhari last month, over the lack of implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding the government signed with ASUU in 2009 and others demands reach in 2020.

The president however pleaded with the lecturers, assuring that government would begin implementation of  most of the demands as the country's finance improves