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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),has hinted that it would resume its its suspended strike last December if the Federal Government fails to honour the agreements reached.
Comrade Raphael Amokaha, the zonal coordinator of ASUU-Nsukka zone,who disclosed this at a press briefing in Nsukka,said the union was no longer comfortable with government delay tactics to implement the agreement it signed with the union last year that led to the suspension of last year’s industrial action.
He said:” 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 it was unfortunate that, government was using delay tactics to handle issues concerning education but failed to realise that a knowledge-based economy is key to economic diversification globally.
“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.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.
He said there was urgent need for the signing of the draft agreement that would enhance industrial harmony in public university system, create an enabling environment for improved academic activities and competitive research.
“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
The ASUU boss listed some of the pending contentious issues to include; government inability to implement Memorandum of Action (MoA) of December, 2020, between the union and government.
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