We Will Continue Strike Until FG Meets Our Demand - ASUU

Source: huhuonline.com

T he Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has vowed to continue with the on-going nationwide industrial strike action which the union embarked upon two weeks ago until the federal government yields to its demands, Huhuonline.com / has learnt. Speaking on its contention with the federal government, the Bauchi Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Dr Usman Abubakar said the decision to continue with the strike 'indefinitely' was taken after the members met on 14th December at MAUTECH, Yola after the union reviewed the on-going strike action, saying that 'The strike is total and indefinite. We will remain resolute and united in prosecuting this action to its successful conclusion.  

  Challenging claims by the federal government that it has met nine out of the 11 contending issues,  Abubakar said, 'We can neither afford to allow our government to continue with the silent but deliberate policy of stray waiting Nigerian Universities system through ridiculous underfunding and sundry policies nor tolerate government agents claiming to have implemented 9 of 11 items (not mentioned anywhere) or that only retirement age is the pending issue in the agreement while the actual truth is diametrically opposite to these claims.'  

  He explained that 'the contending issues between the union and the government include funding requirements for revitalizing the Nigerian University system, providing for progressive increase of annual budgetary allocation to Education to 26% between 2009 and 2020 and transfer of federal government's landed properties to universities.'  

  Other unresolved issues, according to him include, 'the setting up of Research and Development units by companies operating in Nigeria and Teaching and Research Equipment, payment of earned allowances to Academics in Universities as well as amendment of the Pension/Retirement Age of Academics on the professorial cadre from 65 to 70 which the government has not deemed fit to implement.'