From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU Nsukka Zone) has put students, guardians and parents on notice of their plans to embark on an indefinite strike action.
The Nsukka Zonal Coordinator, Christian Opata who spoke while addressing newsmen at the Benue State University, (BSU) Makurdi said the union may go back to trenches if government continue to ignore the renegotiated agreement.
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According to Opata the union have making some demands for the past decade to the government to revamp the university education amongst others with several committees set up and government defaulting.
Opata said that the current administration has not done anything to the renegotiated agreement of the Yayale Ahmed led renegotiation committee that was submitted to it since February 2025.
The Nsukka zonal coordinator said “If the government is deliberately testing our will, it is time for us to respond.
“We are aware that Nigerians are pleasantly surprised that for the past two years, our union have not embarked on any strike action. This was not because our agitations were being addressed but simply our way of demonstrating to Nigerians and the global community that we are not strike mongers, as is speculated.
“Having given the government ample time to show some element of sincerity, seriousness and display some level of humanity, we have no option but to put them and the public on notice that we may go back to the trenches.”
He enumerated their long abandoned demands to include, the gradual erosion of university autonomy, the tactical withdrawal from the principles of collective bargaining, refusal to revitalize public universities, non-payment of withheld and outstanding salaries, non-payment of promotion arrears to staff, the withholding of third party deduction, the non-payment of the 25-35% wage increase among others.
While decrying the government’s unyielding to resolutions reached at several meetings earlier held, the union threatened not to honour any such meeting anymore until government shows commitment.
He further decried places like Kogi State University, (KSU) where the state government doesn’t want to hear anything about the union and ESUT where Earned allowances has never been implemented.
The union therefore called on Nigerians and the global community to impress on government to attend to those issues before it is too late.
Also speaking, immediate past Zonal Coordinator, Ralph Amokaha said ASUU rejects the government loans arguing why it would be owing and instead of paying, the same government is offering them loans. “Government feed the people with propaganda and make us look like trouble makers. Most of the so called interventions are deceptive and we reject them.”
Members of ASUU Nsukka Zone during the briefing in Makurdi.
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