The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) said it had extended its ongoing strike.
According to reports, the decision was taken after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the union’s headquarters at the University of Abuja on Monday morning.
ASUU declared the commencement of a strike on Monday, February 14, 2022, at the University of Lagos.
But after a month, the lecturers extended it by eight weeks, saying the government needs more time to consider their demands.
Following the Federal Government and lecturers’ inability to reach a resolution, the union on May 9 further extended the strike by 12 weeks.
The university teachers seek improved welfare, the revitalisation of public universities, and academic autonomy, among others. Several meetings between government representatives and ASUU have ended in deadlock. One such was held about two weeks ago with the Professor Nimi Briggs Committee at the National University Commission (NUC) in Abuja.
But a senior member of ASUU told Channels Television that the Briggs Renegotiation Committee did not come up with a new deal. The anonymous source said the committee had pleaded with the union to suspend the strike and promised their concerns would be included in next year’s budget.
Since the industrial dispute, several groups and individuals have waded into the matter. The latest is human rights lawyer Femi Falana who asked the Federal Government to sign the renegotiated agreement with the striking workers.
“Instead of engaging in the diversionary tactics of blackmailing ASUU, the Federal Government should ensure that the strike is called off by signing the Renegotiated Agreement with ASUU without any further delay,” Falana said in a statement he issued on Sunday.
“While calling on both sides to resume the negotiations in the interest of the country, the Federal Government should be prevailed upon to end the prolonged industrial action.”
