Another strike looms ASUU declares plan to shut down universities

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that lecturers in public universities may embark on another industrial action.

The chairman of ASUU in the University of Ibadan, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, said victimization of members and non-payment of salaries may prompt a fresh industrial action, The Nation reported.

He alleged that since the union suspended the strike on December 24, 2020, many lecturers were still being owed salaries of between two and 10 months.

Akinwole accused the federal government of violating its promise not to victimise lecturers.

The ASUU chief said: “The suspension of the strike was based on an agreement reached and a ‘Memorandum of Action’ signed in good faith between the government and ASUU at the stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday, 22nd December, 2020.

"A major common position agreed to (and expected to be respected) by the government and ASUU was that nobody shall be victimised in any way whatsoever for his/her role in the process leading to the Memorandum of Action.”

According to The Punch, he argued that while ASUU has kept to the agreement by returning to classes and performing their respective duties, the federal government reneged on its part.

The senior lecturer warned that the government’s actions could have negative consequences on public tertiary education in Nigeria.