FG Summons University Councils, Vice-chancellors On ASUU's Indefinite Strike

FG Summons University Councils, Vice-chancellors On ASUU’s Indefinite Strike.

Plans to take action against striking lecturers of Nigerian universities.

The National Universities Commission (NUC), an agency of the Nigerian government, in desperate efforts to resolve the 198 days of industrial action embarked by the university lecturers, has invited pro-chancellors, vice-chancellors, and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities.

A meeting has been fixed in Abuja on September 6, 2022, SaharaReporters learned.

Although the details of the meeting were yet to be known, the participants according to the Commission were expected to review the actions of the government on the strike.

NUC in the invitation letter signed by its Deputy Executive Secretary, Administration, Chris Maiyaki, said the meeting would review actions taken on the strikes by university unions with a view to reaching a consensus.

The NUC memo said, “As the pro-chancellors and chairmen of councils and the vice-chancellors are quite aware the industrial action by University-based unions has led to the closure of the institutions since February 2022.

“You are also aware that the non-teaching unions have suspended their industrial actions with effect from 24th August 2022, while a final decision is being awaited from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

“It has become necessary for the governing councils and the management of the universities to be briefed on the decisions and actions taken by the Federal Government so far to allow for a well-coordinated review of the situation including building consensus around succeeding actions.

“Consequently, I am to invite the pro-chancellors and chairmen of councils as well as vice-chancellors of federal universities to a special interactive meeting with the Honourable Minister of Education on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.”

SaharaReporters had reported that ASUU declared four weeks warning strike to demand that President Muhammadu Buhari led-Federal Government implement the 2009 FG/ASUU Agreement on how to fund the nation’s university education.

Since then the strike has lingered due to what ASUU described as a “failure” on the part of the government to meet its demands.

Strike Continues, FG Yet To Take Concrete Action – ASUU

SaharaReporters reported that among the demands of the striking lecturers include the payment of earned allowances, payment of revitalization funds to universities, creation of visitation panels, and implementation of the University Transparency Accountability Solution instead of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System for the payment of workers in the ivory towers.

However, after so many failed negotiations with the federal government, ASUU, after its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Sunday and Monday, said it had decided to declare “a comprehensive, total and indefinite strike.”

Source | Sahara Reporters