UNN ASUU Declares Readiness to Join Nationwide Strike Over Unfulfilled Government Promises
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) chapter, has signaled its intention to fully participate in the proposed nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to implement long-standing agreements reached with the union.
This development followed a congress and protest rally organized by the UNN chapter on the Nsukka campus, where lecturers expressed deep frustration over what they described as government’s persistent neglect of commitments made in the renegotiated 2009 agreement.
Speaking at the rally, the UNN ASUU Chairman, Comrade Oyibo Eze, said lecturers could no longer endure what he termed as government’s insincerity in handling the education sector.
He stressed that UNN academics are prepared to join their colleagues nationwide to press home their demands through industrial action, which may cripple academic activities if no urgent steps are taken.
ASUU’s grievances stem from unresolved issues including the implementation of the renegotiated 2009 agreement, adequate funding of public universities, payment of withheld salaries and earned academic allowances, and reversal of policies the union believes undermine university autonomy.
The lecturers also condemned the continued proliferation of universities without corresponding funding, saying it has further weakened academic standards and placed an unbearable strain on existing institutions.
The unrest at UNN mirrors similar actions in other universities across the country, including the University of Lagos, University of Uyo, and University of Calabar, where academic activities have been suspended as lecturers staged rallies to demand government action. Students in affected institutions have expressed worry over postponed lectures, delayed examinations, and the uncertainty surrounding their academic future.
Stakeholders, including parents and education advocacy groups, have raised concerns that another prolonged strike could derail the nation’s higher education calendar, disrupt research, and further diminish confidence in Nigeria’s public university system.
University administrators have also appealed to both parties to return to the negotiation table in order to avert a full-scale shutdown of campuses nationwide.
While the Federal Government has insisted that discussions are ongoing with ASUU and other stakeholders, union leaders argue that such talks have yielded little progress. They insist that only verifiable and time-bound commitments would be acceptable this time, warning that lecturers would no longer tolerate mere assurances without tangible outcomes.
The union has already given ultimatums in recent weeks, with national executives hinting at what could become a decisive, indefinite strike if government fails to act promptly.
As tension continues to build, all eyes are now on Abuja to see whether the Federal Government will move swiftly to address the lecturers’ demands and prevent yet another disruption to Nigeria’s fragile university system.
