The Academic Staff Union of Universities has summoned chairpersons of its branches across the country to Abuja for an emergency meeting as tension continues to rise over a possible nationwide strike.
It was reported that the meeting is scheduled to be held today at the Festus Iyayi Building, University of Abuja. Several branch leaders had already arrived in the Federal Capital Territory as of Saturday evening.
A senior member of ASUU’s National Executive Council, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the meeting and noted that the session would focus on reviewing the current state of engagements between the Federal Government and the union.
According to the NEC member, a final decision on whether the union will proceed with strike action will be determined during the meeting. He explained that the union must first assess the terms presented by the government before communicating a collective stance.
He said leadership from all campuses will receive detailed briefings and thereafter deliberate on the next line of action. He added that ASUU’s position remains unchanged, insisting on the implementation of the Nimi Briggs Committee report.
ASUU’s one-month ultimatum to the Federal Government expired last week Saturday, heightening anxiety within public universities as fears of another prolonged shutdown spread among students and staff.
In a late effort to prevent a total strike, the government invited ASUU leaders to a negotiation meeting in Abuja on Monday. The closed-door discussions extended into Tuesday, but both parties declined to disclose details due to negotiation protocols.
The union had earlier warned that it would declare a full strike in response to what it described as the government’s nonchalant attitude toward unresolved issues. The demands include a review of the 2009 ASUU–FG agreement, payment of outstanding salaries and earned allowances, and the release of the university revitalisation fund.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who is currently out of the country, maintained that the government has fulfilled the union’s major demands. Speaking at the State House earlier, he reiterated the President’s instruction that no strike should occur in public universities, adding that the government is working to keep campuses stable while negotiations continue.
0 Comments