BREAKING: ASUU set to declare indefinite strike as congresses end in 123 branches, parents propose N10,000 support levy for varsities

 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will declare an indefinite strike over Federal Government’s failure to meet its demands.

This is as most of the over 123 branches of the union have completed their congresses while others are expected to round off theirs today, Wednesday, August 24, 2022.

Recall that the ongoing ASUU strike started February 14 and three weeks ago, extended it for another four weeks that would terminate next Monday.

The union is demanding the release of revitalisation funds for universities, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, and deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

Following a meeting with the union last week, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu said every demand of the union has been met, except that its members won’t receive arrears of the strike period.

The union has also insisted on not calling off the lingering strike until the arrears are settled.

In latest development, an ASUU leader, who declined to be named,  said a proposal for the indefinite strike would be ratified and adopted at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of ASUU scheduled for Sunday.

He said: “None of the branches, including the University of Abuja, voted for anything other than an indefinite strike.

Meanwhiel, the National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has sought audience with the Federal Government over the lingering strike by ASUU.

The association is also proposing the payment of N10,000 per session for each parent to assist government in making more funds available for universities.

NAPTAN’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Ademola Ekundayo, disclosed this on Tuesday, August 23, 2022.

Ekundayo, who lamented continued closure of universities in the country, said parents were at the receiving ends of the disagreement between the Federal Government and ASUU.

He said, “We have submitted a letter to the Office of the Education Minister, seeking for audience where we hope to discuss a proposal.

“We are proposing a sum of N10, 000 per parent every session that will be directly paid to the universities. That will be our own contribution apart from other statutory payments in making more funds available to the universities.

“It can be called parent support levy for universities. We are at the receiving end of the industrial action. We plead with the ASUU and Federal Government to immediately resolve their differences.”

He also called on the Federal Government and the striking lecturers to consider making necessary sacrifices to end the strike.

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