ASUU: If we embark on Strike, it will be indefinite, we won’t end it until…

The Owerri Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has warned that if they (ASUU) embark on another strike, it will be indefinite and they won’t end it until all agreements with the Federal Government are fulfilled.

ASUU owerri zone comprises of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State University, Owerri (IMSU), Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam (COOU) and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU).

The zone made this warning in a conference attended by the leaders of the ASUU Owerri zone.

The coordinator of the ASUU Owerri zone, Mr Uzo Onyebinama, also disclosed that some lecturers are being owed as much as 10 months’ salary.

In his words, “consequences of the Federal Government’s refusal to implement the 2009 agreement is that the union has resolved to go on an indefinite strike.

“As we speak now, the Federal Government is in arrears of major components of the agreement, and that includes funding for the revitalization of public universities, earned academic allowances, and the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.

“The consequences of the Federal Government’s refusal to implement the 2009 agreement is that the union has resolved to go on an indefinite strike any moment and once it begins, it will not stop until all agreements are fulfilled.”

ASUU Benin Zone also said that going on a strike is their last resort because the government only act when they do so.

Zonal Coordinator of the Benin Zone ASUU, Prof. Fred Esumeh said;

“Strike is less frequent in the western world because their governments act. But here in Nigeria, you have to go on strike frequently before government can act.

“The Nigerian universities are no longer attractive to foreign lecturers, including those from neighbouring countries.

“This is due to the prevailing slave wage where the highest ranked professor earns less than a thousand dollars monthly,” Onyebinama disclosed.