ASUU Explains Delay in Declaring Nationwide Strike After Months of Threats
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has explained the delay in declaring a nationwide strike despite several months of threats.
In an exclusive interview with newsmen over the weekend, ASUU President Professor Emmanuel Osodeke confirmed that the union had intentionally postponed the proposed industrial action to give the Federal Government time to address its concerns.
Osodeke stated that the union’s decision to delay the strike was aimed at allowing the government the benefit of the doubt.
“We wanted to give the government enough time to address our issues, but up until now, several months later, the government has not taken any concrete action,” he said. “We are still on the same old narrative, and as a union, it is time for us to take action.”
He warned that the strike would go ahead in early January if the government does not act by then. Despite members’ growing impatience, Osodeke noted that the leadership had been urging them to allow the government more time.
“When we met in November, the leadership had to plead with members to allow the government the months of November and December to address our concerns, thinking it would have done so by now. But here we are, with the same old story,” he explained.
The ASUU president revealed that the union would reconvene in early January to take a decisive direction on the matter, emphasizing that the congress had already endorsed industrial action as the only way forward.
He clarified that the union did not need to give the government a new notice before striking, as multiple notices had already been given and extended in accordance with labor laws.
Osodeke also appealed for understanding from Nigerians if the strike is eventually carried out, emphasizing that ASUU only resorts to strikes when its members are pushed to the wall.
Regarding the recent renegotiation committee set up by the Federal Government, Osodeke expressed frustration with the lack of progress.
“ASUU has concluded its meeting with the committee and expected that government representatives would take the issues raised back to the government and return to us with a fresh agreement. But as of now, more than two weeks later, we have not heard anything from them,” he said. “For how long do we wait again for feedback on the same issues that have been unresolved for many years?”
