ASUU TO COMMENCE INDEFINITE STRIKE ON MONDAY 14TH

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has revealed their readiness to go on an indefinite strike. The Union leaders stated that the move was to persuade the Federal Government to meet with their demands.

The decision to strike was arrived at after the branches of the Union held an initial referendum on Friday before holding a final one on Sunday afternoon. The decision was announced after the meeting at the Abuja secretariat of the Union.

Sources in the know disclosed that several branches of the ASUU, including University of Ibadan, University of Lagos and Lagos State University were among those in support of the move.

Reports gathered revealed that the strike was as a result of the FG breach of 2009 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed agreement on financing grant to State Universities, conditions of service, non implementation of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and also re-negotiation of the agreement.

Other outstanding issues are non provision of revitalization funds to public universities, non release of NUPEMCO operational licence, payment of half salaries to members and government owing universities outstanding N880 billion in intervention fund.

ASUU stated that the silence of the FG over the “Funds for the Revitalisation of Public Universities, Non-release of NUPEMCO Operational License, Non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances, Payment of Fractions/non-payment of salaries, Retired professors and their salaries and university staff schools was no longer acceptable.

An impeccable source from ASUU said: “It seems the federal government is more concerned with buying exotic vehicles for the National Assembly while public education and lecturers continue to suffer owing to dilapidated infrastructures.”.