As the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) National Executive Council (NEC) meets today, student leaders across the country have warned of terrible consequences if the union goes on strike again.
The ASUU's decision to call an emergency meeting is in response to the union's members receiving a salary decrease in October 2022, just a few weeks after suspending the extended strike.
According to the findings, the emergency conference will determine whether or not to go on strike again.
"I can confirm that, ASUU NEC will meet on Monday, November 7, to take a decision on strike or not," said a union member who did not want his identity disclosed because he is not permitted to talk. This is the result of the Nigerian government's half-salary payment."
Remember that ASUU went on strike on February 14, 2022, over earlier agreements that had yet to be followed by the government.
After "failed negotiations," Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige took the striking lecturers before the National Industrial Court.
On September 21, the court ordered ASUU to end its strike and return to work immediately.
ASUU appealed the decision, but the Appeal Court issued a similar ruling, instructing the striking academics to resume academic activities as announced in the earlier decision, and the strike was finally called off on October 14, 2022.
During the strike, however, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari threatened to maintain its No Work, No Pay policy in order to compel the union back to class.
Meanwhile, following the involvement of House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, it was claimed that the FG had agreed to set aside the policy and pay the arrears.
However, lecturers were paid half their salary for October earlier this week, potentially sparking another industrial conflict between the FG and the union. Dr Chris Ngige, a Labour minister, stated the half-pay was pro-rata
However, some student leaders in the country have raised concern over the country's higher institutions' ongoing crises, which is shattering students' futures.
In an interview, the national president of the Nigerian Association of Science Students (NASS), Agbatemiro Raphael Akintomide, stated that the 8-month strike had already ruined many students' ambitions and that a new strike would be disastrous for the country.
He stated that Nigerian students will never accept any longer delay or ASUU strike to rejoin the union, and he urged the government to quit entering into agreements that it cannot fulfill.
"First and foremost, I was dissatisfied with the eight-month strike. I was a part of the system and was dissatisfied with it, and during that time, I was able to publish comments and news releases, mobilize some of my students to protest, and ensure that the ASUU strike was called off even before now.
"But it is very concerning that in our country, when even the vice president is a professor, we can't fix our educational crisis." It is alarming and should be condemned by all students.
"And the most unpleasant aspect is that we've lately learned that they're planning another strike, and I'm utilizing this means to inform the public and all Nigerian students that we can't take it, we can't tolerate it."
"But it is very concerning that in our country, when even the vice president is a professor, we can't fix our educational crisis." It is alarming and should be condemned by all students.
"And the most unpleasant aspect is that we've lately learned that they're planning another strike, and I'm utilizing this means to inform the public and all Nigerian students that we can't take it, we can't tolerate it."
"I recall history telling us that in their day, they passed through this system for free; in fact, they were fed and paid." We are now paying for it, while they are depriving us. Is something we can no longer accept. It must come to an end."
#ASUU #ASUUSTRIKE #UNIONMEETTODAY
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