The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that it is ready to embark on what it described as the “mother of all strikes” if the Federal Government fails to implement the 2009 agreements reached with the union.
The University of Calabar (Unical) chapter made this declaration on Tuesday at a press conference in Calabar, ahead of the union’s crucial national meeting scheduled for August 28.
Unical chapter chairman, Dr Peter Ubi, said the Federal Government had consistently failed to honour agreements designed to improve standards in the university system, leaving the union with no choice but to resort to industrial action.
“The government made promises on these issues, and regrettably, we are here today to inform the Nigerian public that these undisputed issues have not been resolved for several years now.
“ASUU has tried several ways and strategies of resolving the conflict in the education sector. Unfortunately, the government, in its characteristics, has paid deaf ears to our demands and has constantly pushed our union to embark on a strike,” he said.
ASUU’s demands include the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, sustainable funding and revitalisation of universities, payment of the outstanding 25–35 per cent wage award, three months’ salary arrears, over four years of promotion arrears, and the non-remittance of third-party deductions.
Ubi stressed that the strike would commence once the national body gave the directive after its meeting.
The union also called for a moratorium on the establishment of private universities in the country, commending the Federal Government’s recent decision to freeze the creation of new federal tertiary institutions.
“We have 72 federal universities, 159 private universities, bringing the total to 339 universities, giving each state and the FCT an average of nine universities, excluding polytechnics and colleges of education. We are appealing that the moratorium be extended to private institutions,” Ubi added.
Recall that last week, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a seven-year suspension on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, citing overstretched resources, under-utilised institutions, and declining academic quality.
Despite the freeze, FEC also gave approval for nine new universities following a presentation by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.
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