ASUU gives FG 21-day strike notice

By Sodiq Adelakun

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has given the Federal Government a 21-day notice, threatening to embark on a nationwide strike if their demands are not met.

According to sources within the National Executive Council of ASUU, the notice was issued at the end of the NEC meeting held at the University of Ibadan, and a copy is expected to be transmitted to the Federal Ministries of Labour and Education.

ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said the union had threatened to go on strike over the non-implementation of agreements reached with the federal government, including the 2009 re-negotiated agreements, academic allowances, revitalization funds, and the proliferation of universities.

“It is not an ultimatum but a strike notice. We are giving them 21 days’ notice, after which we shall embark on strike,” Osodeke said.

The union is demanding the implementation of the 2009 re-negotiated agreements, payment of accumulated academic allowances, revitalization funds, and an end to the proliferation of universities.

Osodeke said the government had yet to implement the agreements reached, despite the union’s patience. “We will also see what we will do next if the government fails to implement the agreements reached,” he added.

The ASUU president expressed concern over the government’s failure to stop the proliferation of universities, saying many new universities were being approved without funds to run them.

The union’s demands include the non-implementation of the 2009 re-negotiated agreements, academic allowances, revitalisation funds, and the proliferation of universities.

The Federal Government has yet to respond to the union’s demands, but ASUU has vowed to embark on a nationwide strike if their demands are not met within the 21-day notice period.