ASUU Issues FG 21-day Strike Ultimatum

By Khadijat Fowosere and Joan Ogechi

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 21-day strike ultimatum to the Federal Government, saying that the Government has not fulfilled initial agreements made with the union.

The notice of the strike ultimatum was issued at the end of ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Ibadan from 17 to 18 August 2024.

Speaking on the development, an ASUU NEC member who spoke with Punch said, “It is not an ultimatum but a strike notice. We are giving them 21 days notice, after which we shall embark on strike. Our aim for putting out the notice is that it is a requirement under the labour laws, so we are trying to ensure that all our actions are done according to the laws”.

The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, in a meeting with the union on June 26, 2024, had discussed issues affecting the Nigerian universities and how to prevent the planned strike.

In an interview with the Punch, the National President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke stated that the Federal government is yet to fulfill its agreements to the union.

“At the meeting called by the Minister of Education, we agreed that after two weeks, we will meet to see progress the government has made. We will also see what we will do next if government fail to implement the agreement,” he said.

In the interview, Prof. Osodeke also highlighted some of the demands which he said are yet to be fulfilled over six years after. These include the implementation of the 2009 re-negotiation agreement and payment of arrears of academic allowances due to ASUU members for over six years.

He also added the issue of the revitalization funds, of which he said only one payment had been made since 2013, and the need for the provision of 200 billion yearly for five years to upgrade universities to standard.

Prof. Osodeke expressed concern on the Government’s failure to stop the number of universities from rapidly increasing, as many new federal universities are approved without funds allocated for their operations.