Abia varsity appeals to ASUU members to put off plans for strike

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have been urged by the administration of Abia State University in Uturu to put off their scheduled industrial action.

ASUU members had recently threatened to go on strike over 11 months of salary arrears owed to them by the school.

Going on strike, according to the university administration, is not the best course of action for the lecturers because it would interfere with the existing academic calendar, according to a news release signed by the registrar, Acho Elendu.

The university insisted that it owed the ASUU members nothing and emphasised that, ever since the current administration assumed office, it has been paying their wages on time. It also mentioned that the Abia State Government has been consistent in releasing monthly subventions.

According to Acho Elendu, Abia State University is “Technically not owing any staff salaries.”

Nonetheless, he acknowledged that the current management of ABSU inherited 10 months of salary arrears from the former administration of the institution and paid off five of those months, with more plans to settle the outstanding balance.

The school said that by participating in the eight-month strike in 2022, ASUU members defied guidance from the institution and halted the already scheduled salary arrears clearance process.

By abandoning the planned strike, it further urged the academics to have a conversation and take into account the needs of the students and the university as a whole.

However, a lecturer going by the name of Bro Kalu asserted that the university administration ought to quit assigning blame and settle their salary arrears.