ASUU Finally Declares Indefinite Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has embarked on an indefinite strike.

Naija News reports that the academic union made its decision known at a press conference addressed by the President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, on Monday.

This is coming after a serious dialogue between members of the union and representatives of the federal government.

Recall that ASUU had commenced marathon meetings since Saturday at the University of Lagos.

The union had before time sensitised and mobilised lecturers and students across all universities on the reason the union might likely go on strike.

Naija News understands that the varsity lecturers threatened to embark on another round of industrial action following the alleged “government’s unfaithfulness” in the implementation of the Memorandum of Action it signed with the union, leading to the suspension of the 2020 strike action.

ASUU’s fresh action was, however, coming moments after the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission had reportedly agreed to hold a meeting later on Monday.

The government is said to have also planned another meeting with ASUU leaders during the week to resume talks on the lecturers’ demands.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, had also confirmed Monday’s meeting at the Education Ministry in Abuja.

The Minister told journalists that a representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment would attend the meeting and give the ministry updates.

Ngige said: “The Federal Ministry of Education FMoE is calling them to a meeting this week. I have had interactions with the education minister (Adamu Adamu).

“The meeting will be attended by the National Universities Commission and other relevant government side.

“The Ministry of Finance will also attend the meeting. The re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement has financial input so finance will be attending the meeting.

“They are doing Education ministry meeting tomorrow. The ministry will invite ASUU leadership either Wednesday or Thursday to the education ministry. Everybody will be doing something.”

The minister also said he has communicated the feedback on the integrity test conducted by National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on the University Transparency Accountability Solutions – the payment platform developed by university lecturers.

The minister added that the feedback of ASUU has also been communicated back to NITDA, adding that both sides would meet to iron out the grey areas identified in the payment platform.

He said: “We have communicated to NITDA. NITDA detected deficiencies in their system in the 500 items tested and they have notified us of the items that didn’t pass their test and we have communicated the same to ASUU.

“ASUU has replied which we have forwarded back to NITDA and asked NUC and NITDA to invite them (ASUU) to sit down; the two technical teams will sit down and iron out the things.”