ASUU Prepared for Indefinite Strike Over N880bn Intervention Fund, Pension Registration

There are indications that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may declare a total and indefinite strike in the coming days barring a last minute change of mind by stakeholders within the union.

The Lagos State University (LASU) chapter of the union at its congress on Thursday resolved on a total and indefinite strike to press home ASUU’s demands for the payment of N880 billion intervention fund by the federal government and the licensing of Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO).

All other chapters of ASUU across the country are believed to have also held similar congresses on Thursday on the directive of the national executive council (NEC) of the lecturers’ body.

Options given to the chapters were said to have been: a total and indefinite strike, a one-month strike, one week notice, and no strike at all.

A final decision will be made at the meeting of the NEC on Friday in Abuja based on the outcome of the chapter congresses.

Coordinator of ASUU (Lagos Zone) Prof Olusoji Sowande, said the union was tired because efforts to get the federal government to honour a 2009 agreement with the union were fruitless.

The union listed some of the unresolved issues as: Breach of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the 2009 FG/ASUU Agreement on financing of state universities; breach of the conditions of service; refusal to honour the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and re-negotiation of the agreement.

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In 2016, ASUU threatened and embarked on strike to press home its demands for salary renegotiations and other benefits.

The Nation reports that ASUU held a one-week warning strike in January which failed to produce desired results. It now remains to be seen what line of action the union would tow at the end of its meeting on Friday.