ASUU Strike: Union Alert Branches to Prepare for Industrial Action

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has thrown the decision to embark on a fresh strike to its various branches, following the expiration of its three week ultimatum which expired on Sunday.

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The union, after a meeting with its leadership on Sunday, directed its branches in the various public universities to meet within the next two weeks and reach a decision after reviewing the progress of Federal Government’s interventions.

“We met yesterday (on Sunday) and reached out to our branches; they will meet and direct us on what to do. The branches will meet within the next two weeks,” President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke told The Nation.

But, Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige said government was addressing the demands of the lecturers.

The minister said the N22.127 billion earned academic allowance was being processed, adding that the money will hit the accounts of the four university – based unions this week.

The unions include: the Non-academic staff union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and ASUU.

Ngige said: “The money is there like I kept on telling them. It is being processed. I am hopeful that within the week the money will start hitting the various universities accounts.

“The N30 billion revitalisation fund has been processed; government has finished the payment of the N30 billion according to the information given to me from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

“The N30 billion has been with the Central Bank of Nigeria Needs assessment account; that is where the disbursement is coming from. The money has been there for six months.

“It is the Earned Academic Allowance that is coming out from the 2021 supplementary budget. The minister has approved it and it is being disbursed as we speak. The money is not only for ASUU but for all the university based – unions.”

Source: TheNation