ASUU reveals reason for suspending planned nationwide strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has provided reasons for temporarily halting its planned nationwide strike, despite months of continuous warnings about taking action over the federal government’s failure to meet its demands.
The union’s decision is influenced by new assurances from the government that their concerns will be addressed this time.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, gave this explanation during an exclusive interview with Nigerian Tribune over the weekend when asked for an update on their dispute with the federal government.
According to him, the government has yet to take any concrete steps regarding their concerns. However, it has made a series of fresh commitments with a specific timeline, which the union is now considering.
When asked about the details of these new promises, he stated, “Our demands remain the same. These include the issue of revitalization funds, our unpaid earned academic allowances and other entitlements, our withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, the renegotiation of our previous agreement, and so forth.”
“The last time we met with the government, we were informed that our concerns, especially the revitalization funds, earned academic allowances, and withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, would be addressed in the current national budget and that the funds would be released immediately after the budget’s passage.”
“Now, the budget has been passed and signed for implementation.”
“There is no longer any excuse for the government not to take action as promised. We are giving them until the end of this month (March) to fulfill their commitments before we decide our next course of action as a union.”
Osodeke emphasized that while ASUU does not rely on mere promises but on actual implementation—especially given the government’s history of unfulfilled agreements—the union is willing, in this instance, to extend some level of trust.
“We are giving the government this opportunity, especially since it has provided some evidence of commitment in the 2025 budget and has involved the Accountant-General of the Federation in addressing our demands.”
“That is why we are waiting, and we will wait until the end of this month,” he stressed.
