ASUU Hints On Nationwide Strike Again

The Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities in the University of Jos, Dr Lazarus Maigoro, On Wednesday revealed that the union is currently mobilising its members in a bid to embark on strike.

The union hinted on embarking on a nationwide strike because the government has failed to meet its demands.

Dr Maigoro stated this while dismissing the report that the union is insensitive to the plight of students and parents by constantly embarking on strikes.

He noted that the demands of the union before the Federal Government are targeted at improving the standard of universities in the country.

The union are planning to embark on an industrial strike over the failure of the government to fulfil the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached with it since 2009.

Maigoro while reacting to the outcry of parents that the union does not care about their student, he said the union’s demands from the government are targeted on adequate funding, infrastructure development and the need for improved facilities in the universities with a view to making learning more conducive for students.

“It is true that we are currently mobilizing our members across our 13 zones in the country for a nationwide strike and this is because government has failed to fulfil the MoU of 2009.”

“It was same issues that led to the strike in 2018 which was later suspended in February 2019 and as I speak to you, government has not fulfilled any of the agreements reached.”

“Our demands are not personal, but we want adequate funding for universities, more infrastructure development and what have you so that students can learn under a conducive atmosphere.”

“So, parents and indeed Nigerians should not see us in bad light, because we are pushing for a cause that will raise the standard of our universities.”

“Remember, our children and colleagues are also schooling in this system; we are also affected by the strikes, and so it is not about us, but the future generation.”

He accused politicians and government officials of being insensitive to education in the country, he called on the government to act fast.

“We are like any other ordinary Nigerian; we don’t have money to take our children abroad. It is the politicians that send their children overseas to school. And that is why they don’t care about improving the system at home because it doesn’t affect them in any way”.

“So, government must be proactive enough in bringing back the lost glory of education in Nigeria by making the system work through adequate funding and what have you,” he said.