- As another round of industrial action looms
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says with the ultimatum to the Federal Government on implementing its demands having expired on Sunday, Nigerians should expect to hear from the University Lecturers within the next 24 hours.
According to ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, the Union would declare its new position after consulting with all its branches nationwide.
With the possibility of another round of industrial action looming large, Osodeke said the meeting held by the principal officers on Sunday resolved to proceed on consultations with branches as prescribed by ASUU’s laid-down rules, after which it will take a definite stance on what to do next.
He said consultations were ongoing and would be through within the next 24 hours after which the Union would make the Nigerian public aware of its latest position.
Dropping hints on the Sunday meeting’s outcome, the ASUU boss said; “It is the principal officers that met yesterday (Sunday)”, and “Following our procedures, we are going to the branches to consult them and then we will come to take the final decision.”
When asked how long would it take the union to come out with its position, he said,” Immediately, you will hear from them today.”
The lecturers had threatened another round of strikes following the Federal Government’s failure to implement the Memorandum of Action (MoA) agreed upon and their ultimatum for implementing the demands or facing another industrial action ended on Saturday, December 4, 2021.
Briefing the press at the union’s National Secretariat, University of Abuja, Prof Osodeke urged parents and all patriotic Nigerians to hold the Federal Government accountable if the issues raised were not addressed within three weeks.
He said despite the October 14, 2021 meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige on major outstanding issues of funding for revitalising public universities and earned academic allowances; University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) promotion arrears; renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement; and the inconsistencies in IPPIS payment, nothing on the part of government has demonstrated commitment in sorting out the listed challenges. – With Vanguard News reports
