ASUU Vows to Paralyse Varsity Education Again, Declares One-month ‘Total’ Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced a four-week “comprehensive and total” strike.

The strike will take effect from February 14, 2022.

ASUU National President Prof Emmanuel Osodeke announced the development to journalists on Monday in Lagos after the National Executive Council(NEC) meeting of the union tagged ‘NEC for NEC.’

ASUU NEC members, including leaders across campuses held marathon meetings over the weekend.

The union’s demands include funding for revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution

Others are: renegotiation of 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, and the inconsistencies in Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System Payment.

One of the lingering issues between the government and the union include renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, which ASUU believed ought was meant be reviewed every three years.

However, nine months after the renegotiation concluded in May 2021, ASUU said the government has refused to sign and implement the contents of the renegotiated agreement.

Also on the list is the stalled adoption of University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) in replacement of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) that is currently in use for the payment of the union members’ salaries.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had in December said the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) gave positive feedback on UTAS but that there are little observations to be addressed.

However, ASUU alleged that the IPPIS is found to be marred with irregularities.

ASUU is also demanding the regulation of the proliferation of state-owned universities by governors who it alleges owe staff salaries and payment of university subventions, leaving the universities with failing infrastructures.