After the rounding up of the "NEC for NEC" meeting that was dragged into the early hours of 14th February 2022, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has agreed to embark on a one-month warning strike to drive home its demand from the government.
It was gathered that the meeting held in Lagos was unconnected from the number of demands the Union has been calling on the Federal Government to fulfill which includes the payment of Earned Academic Allowance, revitalization fund, the replacement of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System, IPPIS, with the University Transparency and Accountability System UTAS, among others. Otherwise, the union would go on indefinite strike action.
“We just want to give the government a long rope hoping that it would see the need to avoid a total paralysis of academic activities in the nation’s universities. We are parents too and have our children in the system but we cannot watch and allow the total collapse of education in the country.
“Our agitation is in the interest of all and if the system is made better, we will all enjoy it. Prominent personalities in the country have waded into the matter but the government seems recalcitrant. Our National President would explain more when he briefs the press later today,” he said.
A Chairman of one of the branches, who preferred anonymity stated the least consideration so far is a warning strike, noting that ASSU is being considered but that of the Federal Government is not helping matters.
“The least consideration, for now, is a warning strike. Some of our branch representatives feel we should commence strike outrightly but others advised that apart from the lecture free-day declared, we should embark on another warning strike before the full, indefinite strike.”
