A total strike has been declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka chapter in Anambra State.
According to the university, the latest decision followed government’s lack of commitment to reaching an agreement with the Union.
The body, in a statement by its chairperson, Stephen Ufoaroh said the decision was in agreement with the National, Zonal and Branch leaderships targeted at saving the soul of nation’s public universities.
It accused Federal Government of paying lip service to education, insisting there was no going back to the industrial action until all issues at stake were satisfactorily resolved.
The lecturers appealed for continued solidarity from parents, students and entire citizens in the struggle to give Nigerian youth quality education.
The statement reads in part, “Congress noted with dismay the continued imbroglio on the current lingering industrial action, occasioned by intransigence, and lack of commitment by government (both Federal and State) on the genuine demands of ASUU.
“Congress decried various intrigues and lies to malign the reputation and genuine demands of ASUU by the Federal government, including various propaganda tools, campaign of calumny, falsehood and misinformation. Congress categorically debunked the various claims of Government as lies.
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“On Government’s negligence and repudiation of the reports of the various Government Negotiating Committees (The Prof. Jibril Munzali Committee of May, 2021, and the just concluded Prof Nimi Brigg’s Committee), ASUU NAU Congress viewed the Federal government’s attitude as irresponsible, reprehensible and symptomatic of a divided and confused house.
“Congress rejected the Federal government’s award of salary to University lecturers, with the very insulting award’ of 35% increment for Professors at bar and 25% for other levels of academics, on a take-it-or-leave-it-basis.
“Congress observed that the award of salary negates the principle of collective bargaining, and an insult to the sensibilities of the finest intelligentsia of the nation’s human capital development.
READ ALSO: ASUU reacts to parents’ proposal to pay N10,000 per session to end prolonged strike
“Congress observed that the education of Nigerians is not a priority of government; that the Strike could have been avoided if government had considered education a priority.
“On the press briefing by the Minister of Education on 17th August, 2022, Congress took note of the fruitless effort by the minister to misinform Nigerians to the effect that every issue with ASUU has been resolved except the issue of salary arrears for the months ASUU had been on strike, which, as he stated, government was not willing to pay and would not pay, to serve as a deterrence to strike.
“We wish to state categorically that at no time was the issue of salary arrears discussed with the Minister, as no agreement has been reached on the important issues that necessitated the strike. This statement by the Minister is diversionary, irresponsible and condemnable.”
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