By our correspondent
The Abuja zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU) has said it is warming up for an indefinite strike over unresolved issues between its mother union and the federal government.
Five branches make up the Abuja zone of the union. They include Federal University of Technology Minna, University of Abuja, Nasarawa state University Keffi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Lapai, Niger state and Federal University of Lafia.
Acting Coordinator of the zone, Professor Gbolahan Bolarin in a press briefing in Lafia, Nasarawa State, decried the lack of commitment by the federal government to address the lingering issues.
“After our Executive Council meeting in Ibadan on 17th and 18th of August 2024, you recalled that the union gave a 21 days ultimatum to federal government to quickly address and resolve all issues that we have been battled with then. But unfortunately, we are there today to still talk about those issue.
“These demands are not new to you but for the purpose of emphasis, one of the demands is the conclusion of negotiation of 2009 FG, ASUU agreement for several years without result. Unfortunately, if we move one step forward the FG will take us three steps backward so that is why we are still talking about the matter.
“The release of three and half months salaries of our members during the 2022, strike FG through the court terminated the process of the struggle but in-betwewn, our salaries were stopped via a memo by the then minister of Labour Dr. Chris Ngege,” he said.
He said the zone resolved to give the federal government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, during which all the lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the membership of the union.
He said union should not be held responsible for the industrial disharmony that will ensued if the government failed to hearken to it’s warning.
