Union Accuses FG of Insincerity; Students, Parents React Nationwide
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a two-week warning strike effective from midnight, in protest against the Federal Government’s failure to honour previous agreements reached with the union.
The announcement was made on Saturday by ASUU National President, Chris Piwuna, during a press briefing at the union’s National Secretariat, University of Abuja.
According to Piwuna, the decision followed the outcome of a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting convened to review the Federal Government’s handling of key issues affecting Nigerian universities.
“After exhausting all dialogue channels and waiting endlessly for the government to act, our union has no option but to embark on a two-week warning strike beginning midnight,” Piwuna declared.
He accused the government of neglecting critical areas such as university revitalization, unpaid Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), and the stalled renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU–FG agreement.
Students, Parents Express Mixed Feelings
The sudden strike has triggered mixed reactions across campuses. Many students have expressed frustration over the repeated disruption of academic calendars, while some parents urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to intervene urgently to prevent a total shutdown.
“It’s sad that every government keeps repeating the same cycle of neglect,” said Mary Okonkwo, a final-year student at the University of Lagos.
Background: Unending Battle Over Education Funding
This development marks yet another chapter in ASUU’s long-standing dispute with the Federal Government. In recent years, the union has embarked on several strikes — the most recent being the eight-month nationwide strike in 2022, which crippled academic activities across public universities.
The union insists that adequate funding and implementation of agreements remain the only path to stabilizing Nigeria’s higher education system.
What Happens Next
ASUU’s NEC is expected to reconvene at the end of the two-week warning strike to decide on the next line of action — which may include a full-blown indefinite strike if the Federal Government fails to respond positively..
Reporter: Headlineswave.ng News Desk
Photo Credit: ASUU Media Unit
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