The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may embark on a national strike following the expiration of the union’s 14-day ultimatum on Sunday. This decision comes as members of the union at the University of Jos protested against the situation, calling on the Federal Government to act swiftly to avert the impending industrial action.
The protest, which disrupted the ongoing Second Semester examinations at UNIJOS, saw union members marching through the university community with placards demanding improved funding, payment of promotion arrears, and an end to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) among other issues. The university students joined the protest in solidarity.
ASUU's Vice Chairman at the University of Jos, Prof. Kiri Jaryum, led the protest and handed over a 9-point demand to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, for onward delivery to the Federal Government. The demands include the payment of earned academic allowances, revitalization fund, and the payment of salaries of members excluded from the IPPIS platform, among others.
In response, the Vice Chancellor expressed support for ASUU's demands and pledged to include an additional demand regarding electricity provision in the protest letter to the government. He emphasized the need for increased government funding to public universities to enable them to function effectively.
ASUU had earlier threatened a nationwide strike if the government failed to reconstitute the governing councils of federal universities. Despite the government's announcement of a new governing council, ASUU rejected the action, insisting that its demands had not been met. The 14-day ultimatum given by ASUU is set to expire on Sunday, raising the possibility of a nationwide strike.
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