ASUU NEC To Sit today, to Decide on Indefinite Strike Even As Ngige Says Nigeria is Broke.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU National Executive Committee will sit today to determine the next line of action over the ongoing ASUU strike. The previous 12 Weeks extension ends today 1st August 2022 and the outcome of the decision of the National Executive Committee will determine the next line of action for the striking lecturers.
Although, there has been a series of consultations and meetings between ASUU and the federal government through several agencies and departments and the recent transfering of proceedings from the office of the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige to the office of the Minister of Education, Hon. Adamu then requested 2-3 weeks to resolve the lingering issue and get feedback from the President, Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR.
Although, a meagre percentage of students are optimistic that since the negotiations seem to have gotten a headway, ASUU might call off the strike and then continue negotiations even while students return to class but the decision of the National Executive Committee will determine what stand the association will take eventually.
Also, in recent days, Minister for Labor and Employment had revealed that “Nigeria is Broke” and will not be able to meet several obligations to some unions and organisations if drastic measures are not taken concerning the finances of the country. While speaking at the press briefing of the 2022 World Day against Child Labour in Abuja, He said “I can tell you that Nigeria is broke. There is no money to fund capital projects next year. As you can see, the dollar that has been hovering around N500 and N600 is now above N700. The truth is that there is no money anywhere. The money that the FAAC (Federation Account Allocation Committee) has been sharing is money from taxes, customs, and other revenue-generating agencies“.
He added “I have been Minister of Labour and Employment for seven years. Before, we negotiated with ASUU alone, which then suspended its strike. But NASU, SSANU and NAAT were on strike. The non-teaching unions locked the classrooms and lecture theatres. They also shut down electricity and water supply to the universities, which almost led to outbreaks on those campuses. So, what I am saying is that negotiation with ASUU will not lead to the reopening of the universities. All of them must be involved in the negotiations“
Remember ASUU had declared a 1month warning strike on 14 February 2022 to press home her demands with regards to salaries and earnings, payment platform and mode (IPPIS/UTAS) and the 2009 revitalisation agreement that was signed between the union and the Umar Musa Yar’adua administration.
