After serious deliberations that dragged into the early hours of Monday, the National Executive Council, NEC, of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has voted to embark on one-month warning strike to press home its demands from the government.
But stakeholders have criticized the federal government, particularly ministers of labour and education who have kept mum since ASUU has been threatening to go on strike
“We just want to give the government a long rope hoping that it would see the need to avoid a total paralysis of academic activities in the nation’s universities. We are parents too and have our children in the system but we cannot watch and allow the total collapse of education in the country.
“Our agitation is in the interest of all and if the system is made better, we will all enjoy it. Prominent personalities in the country have waded into the matter but the government seems recalcitrant. Our National President would explain more when he briefs the press later today,” he said.
Recall that the union has been agitating for a number of demands including the payment of Earned Academic Allowance, revitalization fund, the replacement of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System, IPPIS, with the University Transparency and Accountability System UTAS, among others.
Some Nigerians who spoke with metrobusinessnews.com under strict anonymity believe government has lost on all sides as economy, security, education, among others are in crisis.
“It’s unfortunate that Nigeria has degerated to this level where government officials are feeling unconcerned even whenajor sectors are in crisis,” says a source.