Breaking: ASUU to Embark on Nationwide Protests, Reason Emerges

• Academic activities in Nigeria’s universities may soon be disrupted, as they brace up for countrywide protests across branches
• Legit.ng gathered that this is a prelude to a nationwide strike, which would end the over two-year uninterrupted academic activities
• A member of the ASUU National Executive Committee (NEC) disclosed that a meeting would be convened soon to approve nationwide industrial action

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering governance in Nigeria.

FCT, Abuja - The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Tuesday, August 19, resolved to embark on nationwide protests to press home its demands.

As reported by The Punch, ASUU, in a communiqué, accused the federal government of foot-dragging on outstanding issues.

Legit.ng understands that the date of the nationwide protests will be communicated soon.

ASUU, the umbrella body for university lecturers nationwide, rejected a plan to conscript the union as a ‘guarantor’ of loans, under the Tertiary Institutional Staff Support Fund scheme, recently introduced by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Guardian quoted an ASUU National Executive Committee (NEC) member as saying:

“We are still mobilising. We have given the government enough time. The national president will convene a NEC meeting any moment from now to signal the way forward. But I can confirm that strike is on the table."

The NEC member, who heads one of ASUU's branches in the northwest, expressed regret that the Tinubu administration is allegedly handling issues concerning the welfare of its members with kid gloves.

Is FG listening to ASUU?

To avoid the frequent and disruptive strikes by university unions, many parents go to great lengths, often with financial strain, to send their children to private universities. This is simply not the time for protest or strike in Nigerian universities. With the current economic hardships and students eager to complete their education, the country cannot afford another setback in the academic system.

Critical stakeholders in the education sector need to join hands to find a lasting solution to what has become a perplexing national challenge.

By doing this, the federal government should take the initiative, so that the country can collectively come up with ways to reposition tertiary education. Unfortunately, disputes are always occasioned by broken promises and unfulfilled agreements by the federal government. The country cannot develop until efforts are made to revitalise key sectors like education.

LASU staff unions begin strike

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that academic and non-academic staff of Lagos State University (LASU) commenced an indefinite strike action, effectively shutting down operations at the institution’s main campus and affiliated centres in Ikeja and Epe.

The strike was jointly declared by the four major staff unions at the university over unresolved welfare concerns and other lingering issues with the institution’s management.

In a joint letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the unions stated that the decision to embark on the industrial action was unanimously agreed upon at an emergency congress of their Joint Action Committee.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng