The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) branch, has declared its readiness to join the impending nationwide indefinite strike if the Federal Government fails to address long-standing issues with the union.

 

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday after the branch congress and a protest rally, ASUU-UNN Chairman, Comrade Oyibo Eze, said the government should be held responsible if the strike is declared, as it has consistently failed to implement agreements reached with the union since 2009.

 

“The government’s inability to implement the agreement reached with the union since 2009 is very unfortunate and an indication that education is not the priority of the government,” Eze stated.

 

During the peaceful protest, lecturers carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Federal Government honour the 2009 agreement between Government and ASUU,” “Our wives and children are hungry, pay our three and half months’ salaries owed members,” and “Nigeria lecturers are the least paid globally.”

 

Other demands highlighted included payment of wage awards of 25 and 35 per cent, and settlement of outstanding salaries.

 

Eze explained that the protest was in line with the directive of ASUU’s national leadership and that members overwhelmingly expressed readiness to back a nationwide action. He revealed that ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) would meet on September 2, after a scheduled meeting with the Federal Government on August 28, to decide on whether to commence the indefinite strike.

 

The protest rally passed through major roads in UNN and ended at the university’s administrative building, where Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simon Ortuanya, represented by Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwo (DVC Administration), commended ASUU for its peaceful conduct.

 

Ortuanya, however, urged the union to consider strike action only as a last resort, while assuring that the university management would forward their demands to the Federal Ministry of Education.

 

It will be recalled that ASUU’s national leadership had recently directed branches nationwide to stage protest rallies on campuses and conduct referendums in preparation for a possible strike.