The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, has issued a directive urging members to join the nationwide strike announced by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). This directive was conveyed through a letter addressed to ASUU zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons across the country.
The NLC had earlier declared the commencement of an industrial action starting from midnight on Monday, November 13, in response to the assault on NLC National President Joe Ajaero on November 1 in Imo State.
Despite this call for solidarity, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria issued an interim order on Friday, restraining both NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from proceeding with their scheduled strike, following an ex-parte request by the Nigerian government.
ASUU cited concerns over deepening socio-economic crises in Nigeria, attributing them to the government’s implementation of neo-liberal economic policies, particularly under President Bola Tinubu. The union highlighted issues such as the rising cost of living, hardship, and the challenges faced in its struggles for improved conditions of service and university funding.
The longstanding disagreement between ASUU and the Nigerian government revolves around unmet demands, including the revitalization of universities, autonomy, academic freedom, and the removal of federal universities from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
ASUU emphasized that previous agreements with the government, especially the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, have been consistently disregarded. The union called for the prompt conclusion of renegotiation, activation of budgetary provisions, and expressed rejection of President Bola Tinubu’s dissolution of university Governing Councils.
Furthermore, ASUU condemned the directive requiring federal universities to remit 40% of their Internally Generated Funds to the government, asserting that universities are not revenue-generating agencies.
In a strong statement, ASUU also criticized the National Universities Commission (NUC) for persisting with the implementation of the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), despite rejection by university Senates and academic/professional associations.
The union concluded by condemning the attack on the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Imo State, vowing to resist any attempt to politicize legitimate demands of the working people and demanding the perpetrators be brought to justice in accordance with the law.
