ASUU threatens to resume strike over FG’s ‘delay tactics’
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have threatened to resume its strike action should Federal Government refuse to meet their demands.
The Union frowned at what it termed ‘delay tactics’ by the Federal Government in handling its demands.
Comrade Raphael Amokaha, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU-Nsukka Zone, who disclosed this in Nsukka on Friday while briefing Journalists at the end of the union 2-day zonal meeting in University of Nigeria Nsukka, said the Union signed an agreement with FG on 2020 which led to the suspension of its previous strike action, but was yet to implement the agreement after several months.
“The union is being compelled to return to industrial action due to government delay to honour and implement agreement reached with the union which led to the suspension of ASUU industrial action last December
“ASUU will be left with no option than to reactivate the suspended industrial action since government is not ready to do the needful.
“The union has fulfilled industrial Court requirements to embark on strike, as our ultimatum to government ended on August 31 and one week grace has also expired so the union is allowed by law to embark on strike now,” he said.
Amokaha added that “it is tragic that successive Nigeria governments by their actions or inactions do not consider education as a key to technological advancements, economic turnaround and nation building.
He said it was not fair that government always allow the union to embark on industrial action.
“Government is not living up to expectations that ASUU must always fight for negotiation to take place, fight for signing of agreements and finally fight for the implementation of agreements signed,” he said.
“ASUU-Nsukka zone calls on government to expedite action on the signing of the draft agreement of May 2021 that has been negotiated through a collective bargaining process.
“We call on government through the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Education and ministry of Finance to accord demands, contributions and sacrifices of ASUU the attention required of patriots,” he said.
