The University Of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed its readiness to join a nationwide indefinite strike if the Federal Government fails to address the union’s longstanding demands.
Oyibo Eze, Chairman of ASUU-UNN, made the declaration on Tuesday during a briefing with journalists in Nsukka following the union’s congress and a protest rally by its members.
Eze warned that the government would bear full responsibility for any nationwide industrial action, emphasizing that its consistent failure to implement agreements reached with ASUU since 2009 reflects a lack of commitment to education.
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“The Government’s inability to fulfil agreements with our union since 2009 is deeply unfortunate. It demonstrates a clear disregard for education,” Eze stated.
The protest rally, organized in line with directives from ASUU’s national leadership, was aimed at urging the government to honour its commitments. Eze noted that members had shown willingness to participate in any nationwide strike called by the union should their demands remain unmet.
“Our congress urged the Government to implement all agreements with ASUU and to pay the three-and-a-half months of salaries owed to our members. That is why you see a large turnout for today’s protest. Enough is enough,” he added.
The ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) is scheduled to meet on September 2, following planned discussions with the Federal Government on August 28, to determine the union’s next course of action.
According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria, protesters marched along major campus roads, concluding their demonstration at the university’s administrative building.
Addressing the demonstrators, UNN Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simon Ortuanya, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Romans Ezeokonkwo, commended ASUU for conducting a peaceful protest. He urged the union to consider a nationwide strike only as a last resort after exhausting all possible avenues to resolve issues with the government. The VC also assured that the union’s demands would be forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Education.
Protesters carried placards bearing messages such as: “Federal Government, honour the 2009 ASUU agreement,” “our wives and children are hungry; pay our three-and-a-half months’ salaries,” and “FG, please pay lecturers’ wage awards Of 25% and 35%.”
Recently, ASUU’s national leadership directed branches to organize campus protest rallies and conduct referenda in congresses to gauge support for a potential strike.
