BREAKING: Again, ASUU Extends Strike

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BREAKING: Again, ASUU Extends Strike

After a series of heated discussions, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has decided to extend its ongoing strike.

The decision was taken after the National Executive Council meeting at the union’s headquarters at the University of Abuja on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, in an interview with The PUNCH, the spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, explained that the government had taken all possible steps to end the strike.

He said, “As regards the next steps, the government has already inaugurated a committee to harmonise the IPPIS, UTAS, and UP3. This will ensure that the government will pay with only one payment platform that will harmonise all the technical peculiarities.

“If you bring some demands and almost 80% have been attended to, there is no need to drag the strike anymore.

“It is unreasonable for the strike to be lingering seeing as the government has worked towards fulfilling most of the demands.”

ASUU had faulted the government for failing to meet some lingering demands which led to the suspension of its strike in 2020.

The union blamed the government for the failure to release revitalization funds for universities, the failure to release the white paper report of the visitation panel to universities, and failure to deploy the University Transparency Accountability System to pay salaries and allowances of lecturers.

Other demands include renegotiating the ASUU-FG 2009 agreement and ending the proliferation of universities by state governments and lawmakers.

Speaking with our correspondent in Abuja, a member of NEC who pleaded anonymity said, “The strike has been extended, and the leadership has decentralized the communication channel. We have received mandates to engage more with the media and the public to educate them on the struggles of ASUU”.

The strike by the union entered its 196th day today (Monday).

Earlier: ASUU to Disclose Final Decision on Strike Today As Strike Enters 196th-Day

The National Executive Council of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) held a meeting in Abuja on Sunday.

The union is expected to release a press briefing on the final decision on whether to continue its industrial action that entered the 196th day on Monday (today) at the meeting that held in the national headquarters at the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA).

At the meeting yesterday, there was anxiety that the union may extend the strike based on the outcomes of the meetings of most of its branches held last week.

ASUU had declared the commencement of a strike on Monday, February 14, 2022, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

A member of the NEC, who did not want his name in print because he is not the union’s spokesman, told our correspondent in Abuja noted that most local congresses voted for strike extension.

“We expect nothing less. Most of the congresses voted for an indefinite strike. The NEC takes decisions based on the reports from branches,” he said.

Another member said, “I can confidently tell you that the majority of ASUU branches across the country voted for an indefinite strike. Over 90% voted for an indefinite strike.

Credit: Studyinaija.com, Punchng.com