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Latest ASUU News On Resumption, ASUU Strike Update Today, 9th October 2022

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2 years ago

October 9, 2022

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BREAKING: ASUU Reach Understanding With FG Over Ongoing ASUU Strike

Latest ASUU news on resumption, ASUU strike update today, 9th October 2022, can be accessed below.

Strike: FG threatens ASUU with contempt

Go back to classrooms immediately, court orders ASUU

ASUU Reacts As Buhari Government Recognizes Rival CONUA

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reacted to the Federal Government’s decision to recognize a breakaway faction of the union, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA).

This online newspaper had earlier reported that the Federal Government Tuesday presented a certificate of recognition and registration to CONUA.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, presented the certificate to CONUA leadership at the Conference Room of the ministry, Federal Secretariat, Phase 1, Abuja.

ASUU Strike: Reps Reject CONUA, Speaker Submits Recommendation To Buhari

House of Reps speaker said the move was part of efforts by the legislature to resolve the Eights-month strike which has kept Nigerian students at home.

After plenary on Tuesday, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, led a delegation of principal officers of the house to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, as part of efforts to resolve the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

FG Weakens ASUU, Registers 2 New Factions CONUA And NAMDA [Photos]

FG has registered two new ASUU factions, CONUA and NAMDA.

Newsone reports that the Federal Government in a bid to weaken the influence of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, registered two unions in the university system.

This online news platform understands that the two breakaway factions of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige did the presentation, in an apparent move to break the resolve of the striking union. Ngige explained that the two bodies will exist along aside from ASUU.

Confirming the development on the micro-blogging site, Twitter, the Ministry of Labour tweeted: “#HappeningNow FG presents Certificates of Registration to 2 new Sub-unions in the Academic Sector, Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA)”.

Strike: Issues would be resolved earlier if enough concern was shown, ASUU tells Buhari

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it would have suspended its ongoing strike if concern was shown by the federal government in the early stages of the industrial action.

Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU president, said this on Saturday in an interview with NAN in Lagos.

Earlier on Saturday, in his speech to mark Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary, President Muhammadu Buhari had urged ASUU to call off the seven-month strike, adding that his administration will address their demands.

“I must confess that I am very pained by the recurring disruption to our tertiary education system and I am using this Independence Day celebration to re-iterate my call for the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to return to the classroom while assuring them to deal with their contending issues within the limits of the scarce resources available,” Buhari had said.

Strike: Please return to classrooms, Buhari begs ASUU

President Muhammadu Buhari has said he is personally pained by the frequent closure of the nation’s public universities.

Mr Buhari, who said this on Saturday during a media chat to mark Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary, appealed to the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to return to classrooms while negotiations on other unresolved issues on the union’s demand list.

The president said: “I must confess that I am very pained by the recurring disruption to our tertiary education system and I am using this Independence Day celebration to re-iterate my call for the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to return to the classroom while assuring them to deal with their contending issues within the limits of the scarce resources available.”

Mr Buhari said his administration has made appreciable progress in redressing “these issues that have been lingering for over eleven years.”

He said the government will continue to mobilise resources “both internationally and nationally towards funding education to ensure that our citizens are well educated and skilled in various vocations in view of the fact that education is a leading determinant of economic growth and employment generation.”

Finally, Reps broker peace between govt, ASUU

The leadership of the House of Representatives yesterday brokered a meeting between the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU and the office of the accountant general of the federation.

The meeting came after three weeks of deliberations with the union and all the relevant government agencies to resolve the teething issues that necessitated the 7-month-old strike of the lecturers.

Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila who led the principal officers of the House to the meeting had enquired from the Accountant-general and the NITDA if the universities payment systems can be re-evaluated.

While the Direct-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa said that all the three payment systems including University Transparency and Accountability Solution, UTAS; Integration Personnel and Information System, IPPIS and U3PS failed the integrity test and as such could not be relied upon, the Accountant general, Sylvia Okolieaboh offered for a meeting with ASUU to resolve the issues.

He said that the issues would be resolved using the IPPIS payment solution.

He said that adopting UTAS might prompt unwholesome requests from other agencies to be paid in their own salary structure.

Okolieaboh said: “If there are peculiarities in the university salaries system, what we need to do is to sit down with ASUU and identify them and address them in IPPS, are you willing to accept, if the answer is yes, then the whole of the issues will be resolved.

What we need to do, in my own opinion is to sit down with ASUU and know what the issues are and address them inside IPPS.

“One of the risks I’m adopting UTAS is that everybody will come and say give us our own salary. As we speak, the military is on IPPS, the police are on IPPS. They have their own peculiarities. What we need to do is sit down. IPPS is not a perfect system”.

Buhari’s Administration Unfair To Education Sector – ASUU Chair

Acting chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Ebonyi State University chapter, Dr Ikechukwu Igwenyiyesterday accused the current administration of strangulating the education sector in the country.

Igwenyi who expressed concern over the inability of the Federal government to resolve the lingering industrial action with ASUU noted that the dispute will end up crippling the education system to the detriment of the Nigerian youths.

He said that the decision of the Federal government to drag ASUU to the National Industrial Court is distractive and shows lack of capacity to conciliate and negotiate.

The ASUU chairman made the observation while addressing journalists in Abakaliki on the order earlier given to vice chancellors of universities to reopen schools and commence lectures.

“No doubt the Federal Government decided to take the Union to Court, when the reverse should have been the case. No good result can be effectively achieved if lecturers are forced back to the classes when there is rancour, intimidation, trauma, mental and emotional torture and hunger.”

Benue varsity announces resumption, ASUU kicks

Strike: Court dismisses NANS’ suit against ASUU, FG

The national industrial court in Abuja has struck out a suit by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government.

Polycarp Hamman, the presiding judge, struck out the suit following an application for withdrawal.

While ASUU was the first defendant and the attorney-general of the federation was the third defendant, the minister of education was joined as the second defendant in the suit filed by Umar Lawal, NANS president.

Lawal had asked the court for “a declaration that the 1st and 2nd defendants have a superior bounden duty to ensure Nigerian students have unrestrained access to higher academic learning in the Nigerian Universities System over and above their respective economic interest howsoever called”.

He also asked the court to issue an order calling off the strike.

At the court session on Tuesday, Lawal said he had filed a motion to discontinue the suit.

He premised his decision on the grounds of a leadership conflict within the student association.

Marshal Abubakar, counsel to ASUU, did not object to the application for discontinuance of the suit — and consequently, the judge struck out the matter.

ASUU strike: Why FG reversed decision to reopen universities

Fresh Facts have emerged on why the Federal Government quickly reversed its order to the various university management to reopen public universities amid the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

Recall that the Federal Government had earlier ordered Vice-Chancellors to re-open schools.

It had asked the Vice-Chancellors of universities “to ensure that the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) resume and commence lectures immediately.”

However, it later issued another directive withdrawing its earlier circular.

ASUU strike: FG makes U-turn, withdraws orders asking Vice-Chancellors to reopen universities

The Federal Government (FG) on Monday withdrew its earlier directive asking the management of Vice-Chancellors in universities “to ensure that the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) resume and commence lectures immediately.”

This was contained in a letter signed by the Director, Finance and Accounts of National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr Sam Onazi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Abubakar Rasheed, in Abuja.

Recall that the Federal Government had earlier today ordered Vice-Chancellors in universities to re-open schools and to allow students to resume lectures.

The FG had asked the pro chancellors and vice-chancellors to ensure that the striking lecturers resume and commence lectures immediately.

The FG’s directive had caused confusion for the university management as the vice-chancellors were unsure of how to go about the decision.

But the new letter by the National Universities Commission (NUC), which was addressed to the pro-chancellors and vice-chancellors of the federal universities is titled; “Withdrawal of Circular Ref: NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135 Dated 23rd September 2022.”

ASUU and FG: Buhari Govt Orders VCs To Reopen Schools

The Federal Government has ordered Vice-Chancellors in universities to re-open schools and to allow students to resume lectures.

This was contained in a letter signed by the Director, Finance and Accounts of National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr. Sam Onazi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, in Abuja on Monday.

The letter, which was addressed to all vice-chancellors, Pro-Chancellors, and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities, called on them to re-open the universities.

“Ensure that ASUU members immediately resume/commence lectures; restore the daily activities and routines of the various University campuses,” the letter reads.

Our protest over ASUU strike will be worse than #ENDSARS-NANS

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to stage a massive protest in the South south that will be worse than #EndSARS if the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) lingers.

NANS said it will make good its threat to cripple the economy if the Federal Government fails to return lecturers to the classrooms.

Addressing a briefing in Uyo over the weekend, the South-South Coordinator, NANS ZONE B, Comrade Kings Tamarapreye, said the association will stop at nothing till students return to their various schools.

Tamarapreye, who threatened that the next lines of actions by the students may be ‘worse than the EndSARS protest, vowed the entire country will be shut down.

“As the leadership of NANS ZONE B, we wish to restate our total commitment towards the return of Nigerian students to the various campuses.

“We give a vote of confidence to comrade Usman Barambu-led administration for a job Well.done in bridging the gap between the federal government and the academic staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

End ASUU strike now, CAN president tells FG

ASUU Begs A’Court to Stay Judgement Ordering End of Strike

The striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), yesterday approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja for an order to stay the execution of a court judgement ordering it to end its ongoing nationwide strike.
The university teachers have been on strike since February 14, to press home their demands for improved funding for universities and a review of salaries for lecturers, among other issues.

Justice Polycarp Hamman of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division, had on Wednesday, while delivering ruling in an interlocutory injunction application by the federal government, restrained ASUU from continuing with the strike.

The judge had predicated his decision on Section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act, that empowers him to make such decisions in the interest of the nation.
Dissatisfied, the university lecturers yesterday filed a Notice of Appeal to challenge the order of the Industrial Court.

ASUU through its lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, had in a motion sought the leave of the court “to appeal against the interlocutory ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria per Honourable Justice P.1. Hamman.”
The appellant also prayed the court for another order, “staying execution of the order of Justice Hamman … pending the hearing and determination of the interlocutory Appeal.”

ASUU is claiming that the ruling of Justice Hamman affects its fundamental rights to fair hearing, adding that it would be in the interest of justice to stay the execution of same pending the hearing and determination of the Appeal arising thereto.
In the 14 grounds of proposed notice of appeal, ASUU is claiming that the trial Judge “erred in law and thereby occasioned a miscarriage of justice when he decided to hear and determine the Respondents’ motion for interlocutory injunction when he knew or ought to have known that the substantive suit filed by the Claimant was not initiated by due process of law.”

ASUU files 14 grounds of appeal against FG

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has approached the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, asking it to set aside the judgement of the National Industrial Court, NIC, that ordered to call off its over seven-month old strike action.

The union, in a 14-ground of appeal it lodged through its team of lawyers led by a frontline human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, equally applied for a stay of execution of the judgement.

It will be recalled that the NIC had in a judgement that was delivered last Wednesday by Justice Polycarp Hamman, ordered the striking varsity lecturers to return to the classroom, pending the determination of a suit the Federal Government filed to query the legality of their strike action.

The interim injunction directing ASUU members to resume work, followed an application FG filed through its lawyer, Mr. James Igwe.

Justine Hamman held that the order was both in national interest and for the sake of undergraduates in the country that have been at home since February 14.

He held that the strike action was detrimental to public university students that cannot afford to attend private tertiary institutions.

Nigerian Student Drags Lecturers, FG, NASS To Court Over ASUU Strike

A Nigerian student has dragged lecturers, FG, and NASS to court over ASUU Strike.

Newsone reports that Soohemba Aker, a university student in Nigeria, has prayed a Federal High Court, Abuja, for an order suspending the activities of Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) until ASUU strike is resolved.

The final year Law student of Benue State University, also sought same order suspending the operation of Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC),

The respondents include the Federal Government, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senate President, House of Representatives Speaker, Attorney-General of Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.

Others are Attorney Generals of the 36 states, Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Abia Governor, RMAFC, FAAC, Umar Faruk (President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

The student, in a fundamental rights enforcement suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1684/2022 and filed by her lawyer, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, SAN, said she is affected by the ongoing industrial action.

Aker filed the action for herself on behalf of all students of public tertiary institutions currently affected by the nationwide ASUU strike, NAN reports.

The suit relies on Sections 46(1), (2), and (3) of the 1999 Constitution and Article 17(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Chapter A9 (Charter 10 LFN 1990) No. 2 of 1983.

He prayed the court for an order stopping the payment of salaries, allowances, and other benefits of all political office holders at the Presidency and federal lawmakers.

ASUU Takes Decision On Court Order Calling Off ASUU Strike

ASUU has taken a decision on a court order calling off ASUU Strike.

Newsone reports that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), says it will appeal the order by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) asking its members to call off the seven-month-long ASUU strike.

This online news platform understands that the University of Abuja chapter chairman of ASUU, Dr Kasim Umar, made the decision of the union known while reacting to the order by the court in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The University of Abuja chapter chairman of ASUU said the national executive Council of ASUU will meet today to conclude modalities on the appeal process.

Meanwhile, Newsone Nigeria reports that the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed, has advised the federal government to apply caution in handling the crisis with the union.

According to Modibbo, the said court order cannot resolve the lingering crisis between ASUU and the government.

Reacting to the court judgment, Professor Modibbo, while appealing to both the government and ASUU to embrace dialogue in order to find a lasting solution to the strike, insisted that resorting to force was not a solution.

Court Orders Lecturers To Call Off ASUU Strike

Court has ordered lecturers to call off ASUU Strike.

Newsone reports that the National Industrial Court of Nigeria on Wednesday ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities to call off its ongoing nationwide strike.

This online news platform understands that ASUU has been on strike since February 14, 2022, to press home the demands for improved funding for universities, a review of salaries for lecturers, among other issues.

Newsone Nigeria reports that several meetings between ASUU and President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government had ended in a deadlock.

Consequently, the Federal Government went to court to challenge the strike.

Lecturers Reach Agreement With House Of Reps Over ASUU Strike [Video]

Lecturers have reached an agreement with the House of Reps over the ASUU Strike.

Newsone reports that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reached a new agreement with the Federal Government through the House of Representatives.

This online news platform understands leadership of the House of Representatives brokered the new agreement after four hours of meeting at the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.

However, the agreement is subject to the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently at the United Nations General Assembly meeting at the UN.

Newsone Nigeria reports that ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke led the Union to the meeting, while the Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah represented the federal government.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who chaired the closed-door meeting, announced that the meeting produced some agreements, however, he did not state the agreement reached.

Speaker Gbajabiamila disclosed that the lawmakers will present the agreement to president Buhari upon his arrival, while ASUU is to do the same with their members.

“There were basically seven areas where ASUU has presented what we considered to be requisition for them to go back to strike. We have looked at the seven areas, we have more or less agreed on certain things.

“Once that is done, the leadership of this house will await the return of Mr President from the ongoing General Assembly. We will meet with Mr President. We will lay the agreement reached by the legislative arm of government. I am hopeful that Mr President will buy into the agreement and with that, I believe that this matter will be speedily brought to a close,” he said.

Gridlock, tension as NANS grounds Lagos airport over ASUU strike

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, on Monday stormed Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to mount pressure on the government to resolve the seven-month industrial strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

Recall that the students’ body had earlier threatened to ground activities at the local and international airports across the country beginning Monday due to the strike.

Chairman, NANS National Task Force on ‘End ASUU Strike Now,’ Ojo Raymond Olumide, said students were tired of pleading with both parties to end the strike.

“Nigerian students whose parents created the commonwealth cannot continue suffering at home alongside our lecturers while the few who gain from our sweat and blood have their kids abroad.

“We call on students to rise and join us as we take our destinies into our hands. Our demands remain consistently clear and simple,” he said.

Strike: Court Hears Federal Govt’s Suit Against ASUU Today

National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja will today hear a suit filed by the federal government against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the union’s ongoing strike.

The court had summoned the federal government and ASUU to appear before it on Monday September 12th, 2022 over the seven-month-old strike.

However, at the first hearing, Justice Polycap Hamman adjourned the matter till Friday, September 16th, to enable both parties to file the necessary papers for the suit.

But at the resumed sitting on September 16th, the court announced that the case is further adjourned till today after hearing both parties’ comments.

The judge had earlier on Monday ordered the federal government and ASUU to file and exchange their written submissions and fixed today, Friday, for a further mention of the case.

The government application is seeking an order to restrain ASUU from continuing with its ongoing strike “pending the hearing and determination of substantive suit.”

We’re Ready To Call Off Strike If… – ASUU

ASUU says it’s ready to call off the ongoing ASUU strike.

Newsone reports that the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, has said that the union is willing to call off its seven-month-old strike.

This online news platform understands that the ASUU President said this could only be achieved if concrete agreements are reached with the Federal Government.

Newsone Nigeria reports that the ASUU President made this in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Thursday, September 16, 2022, at a National Town Hall Meeting on Tertiary Education tagged: ‘The Locked Gates of our Citadels -A National Emergency.’

The Federal Government recently sued ASUU at the industrial court in an attempt to end the strike.

Osodeke said, “On all these issues, we have given the government a minimum that we can accept, but they have not responded on the issue of revitalisation, on the issue of earned allowance and on issues that we have all discussed.

“We negotiated and agreed that they should sign, and this is very simple, not more than one day. On UTAS and IPPIS, we said release the report of the test you did and let’s look at the one that came first and take it as we agreed. So, we have given them the minimum we want and we have to come down, and they can do it in one day if there is a will.”

Pro-chancellors, VCs intervene in ASUU’s seven-month strike

ASUU strike: NANS protests, grounds Lagos-Ibadan expressway

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Tuesday blocked the Shagamu interchange of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to protest the ongoing ASUU strike.

Hundreds of the protesting students demanded an immediate end to the prolonged strike urging the Federal Government to meet the demands of the striking lecturers to enable them to return to class

ASUU commenced a warning strike on February 14, 2022.

NANS’ South West Zone and National Public Relations Officer Adegboye Emmanuel and Giwa Temitope, in a statement, said the strike was too much to bear.

The statement reads: “There is no point arguing about who is at fault or what is to be done, it is very clear that the rulers underfund education and the Buhari government is failing in its promises to revamp education.

FG Vs ASUU: Court Adjourns Case Till September 16

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has adjourned to September the 16th, 2022 the suit filed by the Federal Government against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the industrial action embarked upon by the union about seven months ago.

The Federal Government approached the court sitting in Abuja, requesting an order for ASUU to resume it continues to engage the union to address their dispute.

A statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, indicated that the matter was referred to the registrar of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria by the Minister, Chris Ngige on Thursday 8 September.

At Monday’s proceedings, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) sought to join the suit as an interested party.

SERAP’s lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegnoruwa (SAN) said his client had filed a similar suit to compel the Federal Government to honour its 2009 agreement with the striking lecturers.

He said SERAP’s request to join in the matter is based on the need to forestall the duplicity of outcomes concerning the industrial dispute. However, counsel to the Federal Government, Tijjani Gazali (SAN) opposes SERAP’s application to consolidate the suits.

He told the judge that SERAP’s application was premature as the case was billed for mention on Monday. Counsel to ASUU, Femi Falana, however, argued that he was aware of the efforts by lawyers to file court papers in the suit on Monday.

The judge ruled that the suit is not ripe for consolidation by SERAP. The judge said he was only presiding over the matter as a vacation judge and that the case would be assigned to another judge for adjudication.

He ordered the parties in the suit to file and exchange court documents as he adjourned the matter to Friday, 16 September 2022.

FG Drags ASUU to Industrial Court, Says Negotiations Have Failed

The raging dispute between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that has kept many universities shut for more than seven months will shift to the Industrial court next Monday.

ASUU had embarked on strike since February 15 to protest alleged decay of infrastructure at the various institutions, as well as neglect of the welfare of its members.

A reliable source at the Federal Ministry of Labour told THISDAY last night that the ministry’s Trade Dispute Department had filed a case before the Industrial Arbitration Court in Abuja and that the hearing would commence next Monday.

According to the source, “The federal government has filed a case at the Industrial Court challenging the continued strike by the university teachers. This is in conformity with Section 17 of the Trade Dispute Act.”

ASUU Strike: Our patience overstretched – NANS threaten to occupy Ministry of Education

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has called on the Federal Government to resolve, within working days, the lingering Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, strike.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued by the NANS’s factional President, Umar Faruk Lawal, at Abuja, on Thursday.

Lawal said Nigerian students’ patience has been stretched beyond limits, following the effect of the industrial action by ASUU.

He said, “Academic Staff Union (ASUU) has been on strike for almost eight months, the academic calendar cannot be used as a parameter for years of studies anymore, as students keep suffering from the long-term effect of the strike. The Nigerian students’ patience has been stretched beyond its elastic limit and they have resolved to liberate themselves from the recurring effect of the industrial action by ASUU”.

ASUU Strike: Nigerians Don’t Have ‘Good Reasons’ To Be Disappointed – FG

The Minister of Education Adamu Adamu believes Nigerians do not have “good reasons” to be disappointed with the Federal Government’s handling of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

He said this on Wednesday during an interview on Channel Television’s Politics Today.

The lecturers have been on strike since February 14th but negotiations between them and the Federal Government have thus far not yielded results, a development that has triggered reactions from Nigerians.

When asked if Nigerians should be disappointed over the government’s inability to resolve the impasse, he said the government is not at fault.

“If Nigerians are disappointed, I think they don’t have very good reasons to be disappointed with the government on this,” he said. “Why should they be disappointed? Just tell me in your opinion, how is it the fault of the government and not that of the union?

“You can only blame the Federal Government if it refuses to do what it is supposed to do — make the offer to satisfy their demands. There is no demand that can be satisfied 100 percent by any government.”

ASUU strike: FG to Review ‘No Work, No Pay’ decision, sets up committee

The Federal Government says it has set up a tactical committee to review its ‘no work, no pay’ stance against striking members of the Academic Staff Union Of Universities.

This was disclosed by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, following the outcome of a meeting by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, with Pro-Chancellors, Chairmen of Councils as well as Vice Chancellors of universities.

The meeting was part of efforts to resolve the seven-month industrial action by lecturers of public universities.

He said the committee is to also look into issues of increase in the salaries of the university lecturers and come up with workable solutions.

ASUU strike: We’ve done all we can – FG

The Federal Government says it has done all it can to end the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who stated this on Tuesday while meeting with Pro-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Abuja, said all previous efforts by the government to return the lecturers back to class have proved abortive.

He said he and many government officials had engaged the union on several occasions to end the seven-month-old strike.

“We have done the best that we can in the circumstance. After inter-ministerial consultations and rounds of hard negotiations with all government agencies, we interacted with the Unions. I personally, gave it all it required to resolve the current challenges.

“I met the Unions anywhere and everywhere possible with facts, with figures, and with absolute sincerity.

“For example, I directly met with ASUU leadership in my house, in my office and at the ASUU Secretariat on several different occasions, in addition to other formal engagements going on,” he said.

Strike: Emulate Jonathan, engage ASUU personally

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to end the lingering Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, strike, by emulating the strategy adopted by former Predident Goodluck Jonathan in November 2013, during which he personally presided over the meeting with the aggrieved lecturers and had the knotty issues resolved.

Convener of the Middle Belt Movement for Justice and Peace, MBMJP, Joe Bukka, who gave the advise, yesterday, in Makurdi, said it had become imperative for the President to personally step into the matter to have it resolved, in the interest of all parties, without further delay.

He said: “The former President Jonathan’s strategy paid off in November 2013, when the strike, at the time, lasted for four months and it became obvious that Nigerians resented the government for allowing the strike to linger for that long when the negotiators, on the part of the government, failed to make any headway.

“The then President Jonathan rose to the occasion, he summoned all the relevant government functionaries and the leadership of ASUU to a meeting which he personally presided over.

“He took charge of the negotiations in a sitting that lasted about 12 hours and at the end of that meeting agreements were reached, immediate actions taken and the strike was called off to the relief of all Nigerians.

“We urge President Buhari to adopt the same strategy at this time to have the strike called off because it is a national embarrassment that our public universities have remained shut for this long and our leaders are busy talking politics without taking cognisance of the fact that a country is in trouble when its human capital development is stagnated.

ASUU constitutes seven-man committee to tackle ‘smear campaign’

FG slams ASUU, insists on no-work-no-pay

Strike: ASUU Asks FG To Channel $23m Abacha Loot On Education

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has asked the Federal Government to channel the recovered $23 million Abacha loot to meet its demands.

ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke made the call on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, while decrying the continued closure of public universities as a result of the protracted strike by lecturers.

Last Tuesday, the Federal Government and the US signed an agreement to repatriate a new batch of funds looted by the former Nigerian head of state, Sani Abacha.

Amid the government’s plan to utilise the money for the completion of the Abuja-Kano road, Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and the Second Niger Bridge, the ASUU President believes the current administration would have deployed the recovered money to education if it truly loves the sector.

Weighing on whether the Abacha loot should be diverted to the nation’s education, Osodeke said: “Definitely. Let’s use a typical man as an example, you have a house and your child is sick seriously and you were paid money that you were not expecting. Where will you put the money?”

“That child should be the first thing you will treat. Is it not? Before you will start thinking about how you are going to buy clothes.

“Your universities are shut for six months. You now have access to a fund you were not expecting, if you really love education, where should you put the money? In that particular place, they said they don’t have money. We need to love this country.”

Peter Obi speaks on prolonged ASUU strike, proffers solution

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has described the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as “unconscionable, worrisome and unacceptable.

He said that the strike has lingered for far too long and that the Nigerian government must immediately engage in “collaborative negotiations” with the aggrieved lecturers of public universities.

Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, spoke in a tweet on his verified Twitter handle on Wednesday.

He lamented the consequences of the protracted industrial action which is now in its seventh month, and already tagged indefinite by the striking lecturers’ union.

He said; “Our position is that the ASUU strike has lingered for far too long. It is unconscionable, worrisome and unacceptable that FGN (Federal Government of Nigeria) would allow such an industrial action to become almost intractable to the detriment of our students.

“It’s time for FGN to engage in collaborative negotiations with ASUU, and in good faith.”

Jonathan: How I Tackled ASUU Strike In One Day

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has stated how his administration resolved a four-month old strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in one day.

He said this on Wednesday in Abuja at the 70th birthday celebration of Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, organised by The Kukah Centre.

Newsone reports that the university lecturers have been on strike since February this over over irreconcilable difference with the Federal Government.

“The society we are managing is complex, now we are talking about ASUU strike, during my time too, ASUU had four months of strike, different committees were meeting and meeting and nothing was working. I said how can our children stay out of school for four months? So I had to call a meeting of all the leadership of ASUU.

“I presided over the meeting with my vice president, the Attorney General was there, I said that that night we must solve the problem. The Attorney General was there, Second to the Government of the Federation was there, the ministers of education were there, the labor ministers were there the finance ministers, everybody that has to do with it.

ASUU declares indefinite strike ‘after fruitless talks with FG’

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared an indefinite strike.

This was confirmed in a statement signed by ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke.

He said NEC observed with regret that the union had experienced a lot of deceit at the highest level in the last five and half years, saying the federal government engaged ASUU in fruitless and unending negotiation without a display of utmost fidelity.

“In view of the foregoing, and following extensive deliberations on government’s response to the resolution of 14th February 2022, so far, NEC concluded that the demands of the union had not been satisfactorily addressed.

“Consequently, NEC resolved to transmute the roll-over strike to a comprehensive, total, and indefinite strike action beginning from 12.01 am Monday 29th August 2022,” the statement read in part.

That’s the ASUU strike update today, check back for more updates. Also, get more trending Naija news on Newsone Nigeria.

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Philips Sunday

Philips Sunday is a Journalist and SEO Expert with a demonstrated history of working in the media production industry. He has degrees in Mass Communication/Media Studies.Connect with him on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.