ASUU Threatens To Embark On Indefinite Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike over the failure of the Federal Government to implement the 2009 agreement.

The Owerri Zone during a press conference on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University threatened to embark on an indefinite strike as “the magnanimity of ASUU that resulted in various MOUs and MOAs arising from the 2009 agreement has been spurned by the Federal Government.”

The meeting was attended by the leader of the union from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State University, Owerri, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam and the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

The Zonal Coordinator of the union, Uzo Onyebinama, while addressing newsmen said, some lecturers are being owed as much as 10 months’ salary.

“As we speak now, the Federal Government is in arrears of major components of the agreement, and that includes funding for the revitalization of public universities, earned academic allowances, and the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.

“The consequences of the Federal Government’s refusal to implement the 2009 agreement is that the union has resolved to go on an indefinite strike any moment and once it begins, it will not stop until all agreements are fulfilled.”

The Benin Zone also noted that embarking on strike is the last resort to attract the attention of the Federal Government.

The zonal coordinator of the zone, Prof. Fred Esumeh, made this claim in Benin, Edo State.

Esumeh said, “Strike is less frequent in the western world because their governments act. But here in Nigeria, you have to go on strike frequently before government can act.”

“The Nigerian universities are no longer attractive to foreign lecturers, including those from neighbouring countries.

“This is due to the prevailing slave wage where the highest ranked professor earns less than a thousand dollars monthly.”