ASUU Lecturers Stage Nationwide Protests, Threaten Fresh Strike

Lecturers under the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Tuesday staged protests across campuses nationwide, demanding that the Federal Government address lingering issues affecting university staff welfare and funding.

The demonstrations, which held simultaneously in several universities, were part of resolutions reached at the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held between 16 and 17 August at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

ASUU National President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, said the protest was to draw attention to the government’s alleged neglect of the union’s demands.

He noted that despite several letters and attempts at dialogue, the government has failed to implement agreements and address critical welfare issues affecting lecturers.

Piwuna said the union is awaiting a meeting scheduled with the Federal Government on 28 August, after which it will determine the next line of action, including the possibility of resuming industrial action.

“As always, it is the FGN that has consistently pushed our union to embark on a strike action, and it is clear that ASUU may have no other option than to embark on an action to press the FGN to listen to our demands and do the needful,” he stated.

At the University of Abuja, lecturers marched under the rain, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as: “Release third-party deductions to our unions and cooperatives,” “What is good for the politician is good for the people,” and “We demand a salary increase not loans.”

Addressing protesters, a union leader, Mr. Ugo, lamented that the union loses about 50 members every quarter, attributing the deaths largely to stress and poor working conditions.

The UniAbuja chapter of ASUU listed its outstanding demands, including: payment of the three and a half months’ salaries withheld by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022; implementation of the Yayale-Ahmed renegotiation committee’s draft report submitted in February; release of promotional arrears of lecturers; settlement of one-year arrears of the 25 and 35 per cent federal government wage-award to workers; and the release of third-party deductions to unions and cooperatives.

The protest adds to the growing tension between the government and the lecturers’ union, with many stakeholders fearing that another prolonged strike could cripple the nation’s public university system.