The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has commenced an indefinite strike nationwide, according to the national president of ASUU, Dr Nasir Isa Fagge. He made this declaration, Monday, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after their NEC meeting held at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.
Speaking to news men, he said: “We are embarking on indefinite strike nation wide because the Federal Government reneged in the Memorandum of Understanding MoU signed with ASUU in 2009 to pay lecturers their earn allowance.”
According to Fagge, the Federal Government, in 2009 made a law to pay each lecturers N12,500 per month as earn allowance which it never did since 2009.
He said the decision of NEC to go on strike would be communicated to the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, while branch chairmen are expected to do same with their university managements.
A student of University of Ibadan (UI), Olaniyan (Surname withheld) said that postgraduate students of Faculties of Education, Arts, Sciences were preparing for their examinations, “but suddenly, they announced that our examinations will no longer hold, we pleaded for the officials to allow us write today’s examinations’, but they refused, after we have read overnight, burning candles, they put us under unnecessary pressure and suspense”, he said.
Segun Ogundiran, a 400 level Education student, while condemning the strike, noted that “ whatever the demands of ASUU and no matter how genuine the struggle is, ASUU should know that strike is not the only solution to the problem.”
Meanwhile, Polytechnics across the nation remained shut on Friday as the National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) insisted that the strike would continue.
In a voice vote at the end of its 74th NEC meeting held at Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, the body said it remains committed to the development of the education sector and insisted on the continuation of the ongoing industrial action until the Federal Government fulfill its own part of the bargain.
The union blamed the Federal Government for the closure of polytechnics nationwide, saying the government should honour the agreement signed by both parties in 2010.
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