ASUU to Take Action in January if FG Fails to Address Concerns, Says Union President

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has explained why it has not yet declared a nationwide strike, despite several months of threatening industrial action. In an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune, ASUU President Professor Emmanuel Osodeke revealed that the union intentionally delayed the proposed strike to give the Federal Government the benefit of the doubt and ample time to address the union’s concerns.

However, Osodeke emphasized that after several months, the government has failed to make any substantial progress on the union’s issues. He stated, “We are still on the same old narrative, and as a union, it is time for us to take action on our proposed strike, which will be early January if the government does not act by then.”

ASUU members, according to Osodeke, are growing increasingly impatient. He added that the leadership of the union had previously asked members to give the government more time, with the hope that things would improve. “At our last general meeting in November, we pleaded with members to allow the government to use November and December to resolve the issues. Unfortunately, we are still here with the same unresolved concerns,” he explained.

The union is set to reconvene in early January to decide on the next course of action, which will likely be a strike unless the government takes concrete steps by then. Osodeke confirmed that ASUU congress had already approved the industrial action, and the union leadership is now ready to implement the decision.

The ASUU President also clarified that the union does not need to provide a new notice to the government before striking, as previous notices had already been issued and extended in accordance with labor laws, without any response from the government.

Osodeke further expressed sympathy for Nigerians, explaining that ASUU only resorts to strikes when members are left with no other option. He said, “We plead with Nigerians for understanding. We only go on strike when we are pushed to the wall.”

Regarding the recent renegotiation committee set up by the Federal Government to address the union’s concerns, Osodeke stated that ASUU had concluded its discussions with the committee, hoping the government representatives would return with a fresh agreement. However, as of now, over two weeks later, ASUU has received no feedback.

He asked, “So, for how long do we wait again for a response on issues that have been pending for many years?” This leaves the union with little choice but to take further steps if no resolution is found by early January.