Following the outcome of the referendum meeting held
Sunday afternoon in Abuja by the union leaders, the Academic staff Union of
Universities has declared an indefinite strike from Monday 14th August 2017.
This the Union leader says is to persuade the Federal government to meet their
demands. This came after several branches of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) have voted overwhelmingly for members in both federal and
state universities to embark on an indefinite strike to press home the implementation
of their demands.
ASUU branches nationwide on Friday held a referendum in
line with an earlier directive by the National Executive Council (NEC) to vote
whether the strike will be indefinite strike, one month strike, one week
warning and no strike.
The meeting of ASUU NEC is currently ongoing at the
union’s secretariat at Abuja to deliberate on the outcome of the referendum
conducted by the branches.
Feelers from the NEC meeting indicate that several of the
branches including the University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Ibadan (UI)
and Lagos State University (LASU) voted for an indefinite industrial action.
One of ASUU Zonal Coordinators told our Correspondent
that his zone voted overwhelmingly for strike and that the outcome of the
referendum conducted on Friday will be collated to enable the union take a
position.
Among issues in contention includes, federal government
breach of the 2009 FG/ASUU Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed agreement
on financing grant to state universities, conditions of service, non
implementation of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and re -negotiation of the
agreement.
Other outstanding issues are non provision of
revitalization funds to public universities, non release of NUPEMCO operational
licence, payment of half salaries to members and government owing universities
outstanding N880 billion in intervention fund.
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