The roll-over strike was changed into a comprehensive and indefinite strike for a reason that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has now made public.
Following a series of contentious deliberations at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Monday morning, ASUU resolved to extend its ongoing strike indefinitely, according to an earlier report by Anaedoonline.ng.
After the majority of ASUU chapters opted to keep the six-month-old strike going, which entered its 197th day, members of NEC chose not to end it.
‘After Fruitless Talks With FG’, ASUU Declares Indefinite Strike
ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke stated in a statement on Monday that the continuing strike has become an indefinite strike since the federal government has not complied with all of its demands.
The president of ASUU stated that the indefinite strike will start at 12:01am on Tuesday and emphasized that it is intended to prevent the closure of public colleges.
The comprehensive, thorough, and indefinite strike, he continued, is something that the union understands with the students, their parents, and other stakeholders.
ASUU reiterates its belief in the sacredness of a strong academic system, Osodeke continued.
The statement reads: “ASUU NEC noted with pains, its concerns for Nigerian students who are also our wards and foster children and condemned Government’s seeming indifference to their plights. The Union empathizes with the students, their parents, as well as other stakeholders (including our colleagues who are undertaking their higher degrees) in the universities. ASUU reaffirms its belief in the sanctity of a stable academic system.
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“Were it within our control, our universities would never have been shut for one day! However, ASUU was forced into taking this painful decision to prevent members of the Nigerian children from the ruling class and their foreign collaborators from further destroying whatever is left of our public universities. We are all victims.
“We need the understanding, solidarity and sacrifices of all to ensure that every qualified Nigerian youth who cannot afford the cost of private university education or foreign studies has unhindered access to quality university education. ASUU strikes are aimed at saving public education, and ensuring that Governments (Federal and State) use our common patrimony to support quality public university education. This is our collective obligation.
“In view of the foregoing, and following extensive deliberations on the government’s response to the resolution of 14th February 2022 so far, NEC concluded that the demands of the union had not been satisfactorily addressed.
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“Consequently, NEC resolved to transmute the roll-over strike to a comprehensive, total and indefinite strike action beginning from 12.01a.m. on Monday, 29th August 2022.”
Recall that ASUU went on strike on February 14 and issued a one-month warning strike in response to the federal government’s refusal to meet its demands.
Paid earned allowances and salary for lecturers, as well as better funding and upkeep for tertiary institutions, are some of the demands made by the union.
Other demands include the revision of the ASUU FG 2009 agreement as well as the use of the University Transparency and Accountability system (UTAS) for salary payment rather than the government’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
On March 14, the union announced an eight-week extension of the strike, citing the government’s partial compliance with its demands.
See Latest Information From FG On Ending Lingering ASUU Strike
It thereafter extended the strike by another 12 weeks on May 9. The union again extended the strike on August 1 by another four weeks “to give government more time to satisfactorily resolve all the outstanding issues”.
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