Another ASUU strike gathers storm, UNN branch threatens

As Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), threatens nationwide strike, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) branch, says members are ready to join. The impending strike, the union threatens, shall be nationwide and indefinite, if the Federal Government fails to meet their demands. Comrade Oyibo Eze, the Chairman of ASUU-UNN said this while briefing newsmen in Nsukka on Tuesday shortly after the union’s congress, followed by protest rally by members. Eze said Nigerians should hold government responsible in case of any nationwide indefinite strike by ASUU as government had failed to do the needful. “Government inability to implement agreement reached with the union since 2009 is very unfortunate and an indication that education is not the priority of government,” he said. The chairman said that the rally/protest was in compliance with the directive of the national leadership on branches of the union to carry out protest rally so as to appeal to government to do the needful. “We held congress earlier before carrying out this rally. ”Our members expressed their readiness to join any nationwide indefinite strike that may be directed by ASUU national leadership, if government fails to meet their demands. “The congress urged government to implement all agreements reached with the union as well as pay members three and half months salary owed them by the government. “That is why you see members in their numbers participating in this protest directed by ASUU national leadership because enough is enough of government failures to fulfill agreements entered with ASUU,” he said. He said that ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) would meet on Sept. 2, after meeting with the Federal Government on Aug. 28 to determine the next line of action. The protesters marched through some major roads in UNN and ended at the administrative building of the university. Addressing ASUU protesting members, the Vice-chancellor of UNN, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, represented by Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwo, the Deputy Vice-chancellor, Administration, commended ASUU for the peaceful protest in seeking their demands. Ortuanya urged the union to take the option of nationwide strike as the last resort after exploring all available avenues to resolve the issue with the government. The VC promised to forward the union’s demands to the Federal Ministry of Education. Some placards carried by the protesting ASUU members include “Federal Government honour the 2009 agreement with ASUU”. “Our wives and children are hungry; pay our three and half months salaries owed members, “Nigeria lecturers are the least paid globally”. Others are “FG please, pay lecturers wage awards of 25 per cent and 35 per cent”. NAN reports that ASUU National leadership recently directed its various branches to stage protest rallies on campus as well as conduct a referendum in congress to give backing to their proposed strike. 

Bauchi Varsity Workers Begin Indefinite Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU) in Bauchi has launched an indefinite strike to protest the university administration’s failure to fulfill prior agreements.  In a press statement following an emergency meeting held at the Yuli Campus on November 29, 2024, ASUU Chairperson Comrade Awwal Hussain Nuhu revealed that repeated attempts to resolve the issues through dialogue had failed.  READ ALSO: PDP CRUMBLES FURTHER AS FORMER MINISTER RESIGNS Despite efforts to engage both the university management and the government, the union found no willingness to address its grievances. As a result, the union decided to initiate a full and indefinite strike, which began at 12:00 PM on November 29.  This includes the suspension of all academic activities, including lectures, meetings, and any work related to the university’s academic operations, until further notice.

FG releases funds for NASU salaries, retirees’ benefits

The Federal Government has released funds to settle outstanding salaries owed to members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Federal Universities. The release is also meant for the settlement of the benefits of retirees under the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme. In a statement on Saturday by Bawa Mokwa, Director, Press and Public Relations, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation confirmed that payments to NASU members have commenced, with many already confirming receipt. The statement read, “The Federal Government has released funds for payment of withheld salary of Non-Academic Staff Union of Federal Universities. “According to the OAGF, the Federal Government has also released funds for payment of benefits to retirees under the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector. “The OAGF said payments to the Non-Academic Staff of Federal Universities had commenced and many have confirmed receipt.” The OAGF reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers and retirees. On Monday, the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU embarked on an indefinite strike over its four months of withheld salary.Since then, activities have been grounded in universities across the country. In an earlier interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, the National President of SSANU, Mr.Mohammed Ibrahim, stated that university executives, including vice-chancellors, bursars, and registrars, did not receive salaries for four months. He said as a result, the universities would remain completely shut down until the payments were made.

ASUU declares indefinite strike at Gombe varsity

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Wednesday, September 11, declared an indefinite strike action at the Gombe State University (GSU).   The union’s branch chairman, Suleiman Salihu, during a press briefing, said the strike was declared over lingering welfare issues yet to be addressed.   Salihu stated that the action became inevitable following the poor teaching and learning activities at the institution.   He said that for a long time, ASUU had engaged the state through various avenues but all to no avail.   Stating that no tangible result has emanated from its amicable resolution, Salihu said the institution has failed to implement the N30,000 minimum wage approved by the governor, leaving workers with the outdated salary table of 2012.   In addition, the union leader noted that the government has reneged on the 2021 MoA for the provision of N50 million to the institution annually.   He said, “Some of the issues are the non-implementation of the 2021 Memorandum of Action (MoA) between the ASUU and the state government, on increasing funding for the university and non-payment of accumulated Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).”   He also highlighted the non-payment of the EAA for over five years forcing GSU workers immense difficulty in discharging their duty.  

ASUU/FG crucial meeting to prevent impending strike postponed

At the verge of another avoidable shutdown of public universities in Nigeria, a meeting that was scheduled for today between the Federal Government and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to mitigate the odds has been postponed.

Police condemned for restricting peaceful NASU, SSANU protest in Abuja

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticized the Nigeria Police Force for restricting a peaceful protest by non-teaching staff unions in Nigerian universities. Benson Upah, NLC’s head of information, made the statement on Thursday in Abuja. The protesting unions include the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). The police had prevented these unions from proceeding with their planned street protest in Abuja, aimed at addressing their four months of unpaid salaries and other related issues. The protesters had gathered at the Unity Fountain with plans to march to the ministries of education and labour and employment to submit their letters to the ministers. However, they were restricted to the Unity Fountain. FCT Commissioner of Police Beneth Igwe had informed the union members that the protest was confined to the Unity Fountain for security reasons. Upah noted that the peaceful protest by NASU and SSANU was a last resort after all other avenues to secure their salaries had been exhausted, especially since workers from other unions had already been paid for the same strike action. He argued that the police’s actions breach the 1999 Constitution (as amended), ILO Conventions 87 and 98, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantee freedom of association and speech. ”It is a violation of the Supreme Court ruling that citizens do not need the permit or approval of the police to peacefully protest and an insult to the dignity of self-respecting and law-abiding citizens. “In light of this, we demand an immediate police apology to NASU and SSANU members whom they violated. “We also demand the immediate payment of the withheld salaries. “We had had cause to write to government as well as issued a press statement on this matter in the recent past. “Government will be courting a major national industrial protest if it continues to ignore our wise counsel,” he said.

BREAKING:Heavy Security As SSANU, NASU Members Gather In Abuja For Nationwide Protest

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma There is heavy security at the Unity Fountain in Abuja as a group of demonstrators from the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) gathered to participate in a nationwide protest. Several protesters have already arrived at the Unity Fountain, but some have been prevented from entering by security personnel. Following some commotion from the protesters, the gate has been opened, and the demonstrators have now used their trucks to block the entrance to the Unity Fountain. The protesters are calling for the release of their four months’ unpaid salaries and the reevaluation of the 2010 agreement with the Federal Government, among other requests. In 2022, both unions, along with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, went on a prolonged strike. While the SSANU and NASU strikes lasted four months, the ASUU strike continued for eight months. Despite President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the affected staff to receive their four-month salaries, SSANU and NASU members allege that they have not been paid, unlike ASUU members. Both unions have urged their members to participate in a nationwide protest on July 9 at all state chapters, with a subsequent national protest planned for Abuja today.