ASUU threatens strike over varsities absence of governing councils

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has threatened to embark on another nationwide strike to protest the absence of governing councils in all federal universities across the country among other issues the government is yet to address.

The body recalled that the federal government dissolved the governing councils of the universities last year. They then asked Nigerians to hold the government responsible for any decision it takes to protest the action of the government.

ASUU also faulted the 35 per cent salary increment for professors and the 25 per cent salary increment for other academics in the university system. The body said it saw the increment as a wage award that could be withdrawn by the government anytime it deems fit.

President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, spoke at a press conference which is ongoing at the ASUU national secretariat in Abuja.

Speaking during the ongoing briefing, Osodeke noted that it has given the Tinubu-led government enough time to set things in motion.

Osodeke said the union was also concerned over the failure of the Federal Government to appoint members of Governing Councils for Federal owned universities. 

He stated that the dissolution of the governing councils was illegal as it was against the principles guiding the existing universities. 

Recall that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had, on June 22, 2023, announced the dissolution of governing councils of all federal universities and boards of other agencies and parastatals in the country. The NUC directive was based on a similar one three days earlier by President Bola Tinubu ordering the dissolution of the boards of all government parastatals, agencies and companies.