ASUU to commence strike again over 2013 agreement

Students studying in various universities across Nigeria would have to return home from Wednesday, November 16, as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared an industrial action against the federal government.

Daily Post reports that ASUU issued a one-week warning strike notice to the government through a circular signed by its president, Biodun Ogunyemi.

ASUU prepares for another strike on November 16. The umbrella body for lecturers in universities said the action was to force the government to meet the agreement it signed with lecturers in November 2013.

“The NEC of our union at its meeting of 12th November 2016, declared a one-week warning strike beginning from 12.01 of Wednesday November 16, 2016 to 12 noon of Tuesday 22 November 2016.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the one week warning strike is to compel the government to do the following: “Funding for the revitalization of public universities based on the ASUU-FG MoU of November 2013.

“Payment of Earned Academic allowances. “Non-release of subvention to state universities by their visitors.

“Shortfall in salaries leading to payment of fractions of staff salaries.

“Exemption of Universities from Treasury Single Account policy.

“The strike is to hold comprehensively, no teaching, no examination and no attendance statutory meeting of any kind,” the circular stated.

The federal government had often clashed with lecturers and other unions in the country’s tertiary institutions over the former’s inability to meet agreements. During the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the lecturers went on strike for many months with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleging that the union was being used by the then opposition. The agreement for which ASUU is embarking on strike was reached during that administration. The education ministry of the country was yet to react at the time of this report.