National Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Protests Disrupt Academic Activities

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its branches to hold a referendum in support of a planned strike.

The Witness has learned that the union has also directed branches to protest on campus, carrying placards and marching from the lecture hall to the university gates.

A member of the NEC explained that the branch congress will vote on the nature of the strike – whether it will be indefinite or phased. The results will be submitted to the regional coordinators for consideration by the NEC.

“The branches are expected to protest the federal government’s failure to implement the union’s demands, starting with the congress, and extending the march from the university campus to the gates,” he said.

He added that union members will hold placards highlighting their plight and conduct awareness campaigns at the campus gates. “A nationwide protest will be held simultaneously in all public universities tomorrow. The aim is to sensitize the public to the plight of Nigerian lecturers in public universities. This government has not taken our many demands seriously,” he said.

ASUU’s demands include:

Renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement

Reinstatement of dismissed members from two public universities

Payment of 25%/35% unpaid salary increments

Resolution of unpaid promotions

Halt of IPPIS deductions from members’ salaries

ASUU President Professor Christopher Piwuna said the union had waited for over two years for no progress. He rejected the government loan scheme, calling it a “poisoned cup”.

He said the Tinubu government was deliberately delaying renegotiation and failing to implement measures to revitalize the universities.

“The government has destroyed confidence. So, either the government must restore confidence to prevent the strike or it must allow it to continue,” he warned.