Why ASUU Take Decision To Go On Extended Strike

The roll-over strike was changed into a complete and indefinite strike for a reason that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has now made public.

Following a series of contentious deliberations at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Monday morning, ASUU voted to prolong its current strike indefinitely, as Six9ja news has previously reported.

After the majority of (ASUU) chapters voted for the strike to remain, members of NEC chose not to end the six-month-old walkout, which reached its 197th day.

According to the (ASUU) President Emmanuel Osodeke statement said on Monday begin 29th, august, 2022, the continuing strike has become an indefinite strike since the federal government has not complied with all of its demands.

Emmanuel Osodeke said that the indefinite strike would start at 12:01 am on Tuesday and emphasized that it is intended to prevent the closure of public colleges.

In response to the complete, entire, and indefinite strike, he stated the union sympathized with the children, their parents, and other stakeholders.

Osodeke continued by saying that ASUU reiterates its faith in the sacredness of a strong academic system.

The declaration interprets:

“ASUU NEC noted with pains, its concerns for Nigerian students who are also our wards and foster children and condemned Government’s seeming indifference to their plights. The Union empathizes with the students, their parents, as well as other stakeholders (including our colleagues who are undertaking their higher degrees) in the universities. ASUU reaffirms its belief in the sanctity of a stable academic system.

“Were it within our control, our universities would never have been shut for one day! However, ASUU was forced into taking this painful decision to prevent members of the Nigerian children from the ruling class and their foreign collaborators from further destroying whatever is left of our public universities. We are all victims.

“We need the understanding, solidarity and sacrifices of all to ensure that every qualified Nigerian youth who cannot afford the cost of private university education or foreign studies has unhindered access to quality university education. ASUU strikes are aimed at saving public education, and ensuring that Governments (Federal and State) use our common patrimony to support quality public university education. This is our collective obligation.

“In view of the foregoing, and following extensive deliberations on the government’s response to the resolution of 14th February 2022 so far, NEC concluded that the demands of the union had not been satisfactorily addressed.

“Consequently, NEC resolved to transmute the roll-over strike to a comprehensive, total and indefinite strike action beginning from 12.01a.m. on Monday, 29th August 2022.”

Timeline for ASUU’s Strike

In order to protest the federal government’s refusal to satisfy its requests, the strike, which began on February 14th, declared a one-month warning strike.

Some of the demands stated by the union include paid, well-deserved allowances and wages for academics as well as greater funding and maintenance for higher institutions.

ASUU FG 2009 agreement amendment and the switch from the government’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System to the university’s University Transparency and Accountability System (UTAS) for salary payment are two further requirements (IPPIS).

The union declared an eight-week walkout extension on March 14 in response to the government’s limited adherence to its demands.

It then extended the strike for a further 12 weeks on May 9. In order to “provide the administration more time to fully address all the remaining problems,” the union again agreed to extend the strike for an additional four weeks in August.