ASUU Threatens Nationwide Strike If Federal Government Fails To Meet Demands
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to resume its nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands by the end of a one-month ultimatum.
ASUU Kano Zonal Coordinator, Abdulkadir Muhammad, issued the warning on Monday during a press conference in Kano following a zonal meeting. The lecturers had suspended their warning strike in October, giving the government a month to address issues relating to staff welfare and the provision of a conducive teaching and learning environment.
Muhammad expressed frustration over what he described as the government’s slow approach to renegotiating key agreements aimed at revitalising Nigeria’s public university system. The meeting included representatives from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; Bayero University Kano (BUK); Kaduna State University (KASU); Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH), Wudil; Federal University Dutse (FUD); Northwest University (NWU), Kano; and Sule Lamido University (SLUK), Kafin Hausa.
He said the warning follows the report presented at ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on November 8 and 9 at Taraba State University. NEC expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of ongoing negotiations, describing it as a major obstacle to reaching a meaningful resolution.
“The suspension of the strike in October was meant to create an enabling environment and a gesture of goodwill toward Nigerians. However, our hope for a holistic and timely resolution of the issues is increasingly being dashed,” Muhammad said.
He also criticised certain government officials for allegedly undermining the negotiation process and misleading the public about the state of talks. According to him, the government has yet to show genuine commitment to improving lecturers’ welfare or addressing conditions that drive brain drain in the university system.
“What the government has offered will neither improve the working conditions of academics nor attract scholars from other countries to our universities,” he added, noting that some officials have falsely claimed that ASUU’s demands have been met.
Muhammad further urged the Federal Government to place a moratorium on the establishment of new state universities, similar to the policy for federal institutions, saying, “Governors have cultivated the habit of establishing universities in their states without commitment to funding them.”
