FG Begging Us for Strike – ASUU, Nsukka Zone

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nsukka zone (ASUU – Nsukka zone) has complained that the Federal Government (FG) is begging for nationwide strike action by the way it was handling the Memorandum of Action (MOA) entered into with the Union in December, 2020.

Raphael Amokaha, the Zonal Coordinator, ASUU-Nsukka zone, disclosed this at a press conference held at the Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi on Thursday.

Raphael explained that although the zone does not wish to preempt the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association that will hold next week, he would not rule out the possibility of a strike action any moment from now.

He further warned that the Union would no longer tolerate the piece meal implementation of the MoA by the government, expressing worries that one year down the line the FG was yet to implement 20 percent of the MoA.

He said, “It seems it is the intention of government that we should threaten and/or go on strike for the implementation of every item in the MoA.

“It is imperative that government should have been honourable in ensuring that it adhered to the road map for industrial harmony as captured in the MoA of 23rd December 2020, but we will rather focus on our efforts at dialogue to resolve the contending issues in the desire that academic activities are not disrupted in our universities.

“In view of the lethargic cum insincere approach by government to the peacable resolution of this matter, the Union will not be inclined to this peace meal implementation of the MoA any longer.

“A critical assessment of the scenario gives the impression that government is begging for a strike probably because of the latent benefits these government functionaries derive from the Union’s strike actions.

Amokaha further stated that “From the foregoing, it will be unreasonable for anyone to accuse ASUU, by any stretch of the imagination, of not exercising ‘unreasonable’ patience and exploring all avenues for a strike-free solution to the government-induced crisis in our public universities.

“The purpose of the MoA was to persuade our Union to suspend a nine-month strike action to allow for a phased implementation of its demands.

“In less than 14 days precisely, the MoA would celebrate its one-year anniversary with less than 20 percent implementation.

“This is against the backdrop of the legendary reputation of successive Nigerian governments for not honouring agreements; how else can it be explained that the MoA entered a year ago, to appease our Union into suspending a strike action is now taking center stage, relegating the initial issues that led to the strike.

“We have been guided by patriotism in our struggles, concern for our students and parents, which we are too, however, sometimes difficult decisions must be taken for the future good. Gentlemen of the press, we request you to kindly bring our plight to the fore of national discussion in order that Nigerians know who they will appeal to for dialogue in the days and weeks ahead,” Amokaha stressed.