ASUU threatens fresh strike over pending bill

The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Monday in Kaduna warned that its members would down tools if the outgoing National Assembly fails to enact the relevant laws for the smooth running of the nation’s university system in line with the 2009 agreement between the union and the Federal Government.


ASUU said two years after the 2009 agreement between the Federal Government and the union was reached, particularly regarding the 70 years retirement age for lecturers, the government had been unable to enact laws that would give effect to major areas of the agreement that required legislation for their implementation and enforcement.

Rising from its National Executive Council meeting held at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, ASUU leadership led by its National President, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, said at a news conference that members of the union in branches across the country would at the union’s coming congresses take the necessary resolutions over the various pressing issues.

Awuzie, flanked by other executive members of the union, attributed the major cause of protracted strike in the nation‘s universities to the refusal of the government to implement valid agreements entered into with ASUU.

He said, “ASUU NEC wishes to alert the country to the fact that two years after the commencement of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, government has failed, refused and neglected to enact laws that will give effect to certain major areas of the agreement that need legislation for their implementation and enforcement. Of particular concern is the 70 years retirement age for lecturers in the professional cadre.

“The expectation was that this item in the agreement would be passed into law within a few months of the agreement. After close to two years of waiting in vain and seeing the consequences in the form of continuing brain drain in the university system, ASUU members have become restive across the country.

“ASUU wishes to warn the country that it should not be held responsible for the consequences if, at the end of the current legislative year, the current National Assembly fails to enact the required law. The National Assembly, and in effect, the government should be held responsible.”

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