Latest ASUU News On Resumption, ASUU Strike Update Today, 17th September 2022

Latest ASUU News On Resumption, ASUU Strike Update Today, 17th September 2022

Flippstack has compiled the Latest ASUU news on the current strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),  a Nigerian union of university academic staff. Latest ASUU News On Resumption 17th September 2022

This means the latest asuu strike news, asuu strike update today, asuu news, asuu latest strike news, asuu latest news on resumption, asuu strike update, and all asuu news stories compiled by Flippstack can be accessed on this page

Below is the latest Asuu strike update, asuu latest news on resumption and ASUU strike news today, Saturday, 17th September 2022

Latest ASUU News On Resumption 17th September 2022

FG Vs ASUU: Court Fails To Hear Case, Fixes New Date

The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has again adjourned a suit against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) instituted by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

The Federal government on Friday dragged the university lecturers to the Industrial Court over the lingering strike by their union which has kept students at home for nearly seven months.

The Federal Government in its suit asked the court to order ASUU to call off its seven months strike.

The court adjourned the suit till Monday, September 19 for hearing the interlocutory application of the Federal Government.

The court presided by judge, Justice Polycap Hammanhe earlier on September 12, adjourned the suit till September 16th (today) to give the FG and ASUU ample time to file all necessary documents pertaining to the suit.

At the resumed court sitting today, counsel to the FG, James Igwe, requested that the suit be given an accelerated hearing due to the urgency of the matter.

He added that since the matter was already in court, the union ought to call off the strike pending a ruling by the judge.

ASUU Speaks On Calling Off Strike With FG’s Instant Signature

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it would not take more than 24 hours for the federal government to sign to their latest minimum demand and the lingering strike would be called off.

ASUU president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, revealed this while speaking during the National Town Hall Meeting on Tertiary Education tagged: ‘The Locked Gates of our Citadels – A National Emergency’ held in Abuja today, Naija News reports.

According to Osodoke, the association has negotiated and agreed that the federal government should sign to its recent resolve and the seven-month-old strike would end.

Osodeke stressed that ASUU is more than willing to reopen schools.

He, however, said this could only be achieved if concrete agreements were reached with the Federal Government.

He said: “On all these issues, we have given the government a minimum that we can accept, but they have not responded on the issue of revitalization, on the issue of earned allowance and on issues that we have all discussed.

”We negotiated and agreed that they should sign and this is very simple, not more than one day.

”On UTAS and IPPIS, we say release the report of the test you did and let’s look at the one who came first and take it as we agreed.

”So we have given them the minimum we want and we have to come down and they can do it in one day if there is a will,” Osodeke reiterated.

He furthered his argument by saying if the government loves the country, the students and their parents, they should immediately come to the table with the union to resolve the lingering issues in one day, which he considered as simple.

“Just as we did in 2014, they should come and ensure that we do that, we can even have the meeting openly so that Nigeria will see what we are discussing,” Osodeke said.

ASUU Strike: FG Says NANS Blockage Of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Illegal

The federal government has said students who blocked a busy section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to protest the lingering strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that has lasted for more than six months were ”violating” the law.

The minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola said this while briefing State House correspondents shortly after this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

According to Fashola, the Nigerian constitution, even though recognises and protects the citizens’ right to public protests does not empower any Nigerian to “inflict pain and inconvenience on other people.”

Recall that Students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)  took to the streets on Tuesday, in protest of the strike and blocked the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Shagamu Interchange.

Students were seen raising placards and chanting solidarity songs as they lamented the now seven-month-old strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

But fielding a question on the recurrent gridlock on the uncompleted sections of the highway, Fashola appealed for more patience from Nigerians saying that there was no alternative route in the already built-up areas.

He said,“I also heard that some aggrieved students under the aegis of NANS are going to the road to protest. My respectful view is that it is not helpful at all to the citizens.

“The right to protest is a very well-protected right in our Constitution, but it does not include the right to inflict pain and inconvenience on other people. And so, whilst the protests can go on, they should refrain from blocking the road in order to do their protests. That in itself is a violation of law.”

ASUU strike: NANS protests, grounds Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

FG Vs ASUU: Court Adjourns Case Till September 16

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has adjourned to September the 16th, 2022 the suit filed by the Federal Government against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the industrial action embarked upon by the union about seven months ago.

The Federal Government approached the court sitting in Abuja, requesting an order for ASUU to resume it continues to engage the union to address their dispute.

A statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, indicated that the matter was referred to the registrar of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria by the Minister, Chris Ngige on Thursday 8 September.

At Monday’s proceedings, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) sought to join the suit as an interested party.

SERAP’s lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegnoruwa (SAN) said his client had filed a similar suit to compel the Federal Government to honour its 2009 agreement with the striking lecturers.

He said SERAP’s request to join in the matter is based on the need to forestall the duplicity of outcomes concerning the industrial dispute. However, counsel to the Federal Government, Tijjani Gazali (SAN) opposes SERAP’s application to consolidate the suits.

He told the judge that SERAP’s application was premature as the case was billed for mention on Monday. Counsel to ASUU, Femi Falana, however, argued that he was aware of the efforts by lawyers to file court papers in the suit on Monday.

The judge ruled that the suit is not ripe for consolidation by SERAP. The judge said he was only presiding over the matter as a vacation judge and that the case would be assigned to another judge for adjudication.

He ordered the parties in the suit to file and exchange court documents as he adjourned the matter to Friday, 16 September 2022.

ASUU Strike: UNIBEN Staff Commits Suicide

A member of staff of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prince Carter Oshodin, on Friday committed suicide over his dire financial situation.

The deceased, who was a data entry personnel at the university, had not been paid his salary for months due to the strike action embarked by university unions.

According to Punch, the Non-Academic staff Union, to which Oshodin belonged, had called off its strike recently, but the members had yet to be paid their salaries.

A professor at the University, who would not want his name mentioned due to the emotional nature of the case, lamented the disheartening situation of striking lecturers since its union began the industrial action.

He also wondered why those who called off their strike are still not been paid by the government.

He said; “Yes, he is our staff that killed himself due to lack of money. Even some months ago, he was quoted to have been advising people on coping strategies and yet he took his life which has put his family in a bigger problem.

We have been no dime since we went on strike. This is the 10th of September, and the non-academic staff that has since resumed have not been paid anything. Boko Haram! No to Western Education.”

Another colleague simply known Edwards said the deceased on his Facebook lamented that he could not meet his financial needs and was finding it increasingly difficult to pay his two daughters’ school fees!

ASUU: FG Drags Striking Lecturers To Court

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had been dragged to the Industrial Court by the Federal government over its lingering strike action which has kept students at home for nearly seven months.

Flippstack understands that ASUU has been on strike since February 14th of 2022 to press home its numerous demands to the Federal Government, which include payment of earned allowances and salaries for lecturers, improved funding and maintenance for tertiary institutions, the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability system (UTAS) for salary payment instead of the government’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the renegotiation of the ASUU FG 2009 agreement, among others.

However, several negotiations between the union and the government have ended in deadlock.

Sources at the federal ministry of Labour told ThisDay on Friday that the ministry’s Trade Dispute Department had filed a case before the Industrial Arbitration Court in Abuja and that the hearing would commence next Monday.

According to the source, “The federal government has filed a case at the Industrial Court challenging the continued strike by the university teachers. This conforms with Section 17 of the Trade Dispute Act.”

Talks between the federal government and ASUU finally hit the rocks last Tuesday after both sides met at the National University Commission’s office in Abuja.

The federal government had said that it would not sign any other agreement it cannot implement.

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, made this known meeting of Pro-Chancellors and Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities, held at the NUC’s office.

ASUU Strike: FG Tells Nigerian Students To Apply For Scholarships Abroad

In the face of the prolonged strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Federal Government through the National Universities Commission (NUC) has admonished qualified Nigerians to apply for scholarships abroad.

Public universities across the country have been closed for seven months now as a result of unsettled disputes between the government and lecturers over some demands of the lecturers.

While the strike lingers, a letter signed by the Deputy Executive Secretary, Administration of the NUC, Chris Maiyaki, and addressed to all vice-chancellors, admonished qualified students to embrace an initiative of the government of the United Kingdom to study abroad.

The letter explained that the British High Commission announced the call for applications for the scholarships to study in the UK, which opened on 2nd August 2022 and closes on 1 November 2022.

The scholarships according to the letter, are fully funded to individuals from any background who demonstrate the requisite skills and commitment necessary to bring about positive change.

Maiyaki urged the Vice-Chancellors to as a matter of urgency ensure the wide circulation of the scholarships application in their various universities.

Interested individuals are expected to submit their applications via the official website only. Latest ASUU News On Resumption 17th September 2022

ASUU Strike: FG Insists On No-Work-No-Pay

The Federal Government on Saturday insisted on no-work-no-pay following the lingering industrial action of the Academic Staff Union Universities (ASUU).

The Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Nanah Opiah claimed that the strike has caused more pain for parents and students.

According to Opiah, President Muhammadu Buhari has done a lot to resolve the strike.

Opiah while speaking at the Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, said Buhari has done so much on infrastructural development in all higher institutions in Nigeria.

The minister said, “The Federal Government cannot pay lecturers for what they did not work for. The strike has continued to portray the country in a bad light and has succeeded in causing more pain for parents and students.

“The Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari has done so much, especially in infrastructural development in our tertiary institution. Because anywhere you go, you will see the presence of TETFUND, buildings, vehicles, and all manners of institutional assets.

“Those who think that lack of infrastructure is one of the reasons they went on strike should think again. Mr. Vice Chancellor, let me use this opportunity to appeal to you, to also appeal to our lecturers to come back to work because our children are suffering.

“Our country’s image is going lower. Our parents are not happy, and these lecturers are also parents of some of our students. Contrary to what they think, some of us also have our Children in Nigeria Universities and they are also suffering.

“Although, if we stay on strike forever, it means our Children will be out of School forever. It is not in our interest. There is nothing that has gone wrong that we cannot get corrected through dialogue. I know that almost everything that ASUU brought forth for discussion between the Federal Government has been resolved.

“Except that, now that ASUU wants to be paid for all the six months that they were absent from duty. And the Federal Government is saying no we cannot pay for those days you did not work. For once, let us activate the principle of no work no natural pay. It is only a thief that goes to eat where he didn’t work.

“And so if there should be any appeal for Federal Government to do otherwise, Lecturers should come back to the classroom to beg and appeal and renegotiate because this thing is no longer funny”.

Strike: Buhari told to sell 8 presidential jets, pay ASUU

President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised on how to resolve the prolonged strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

Buhari was urged to sell eight jets in his presidential fleet and use the proceeds to meet the demands of ASUU.

This suggestion was made by a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, in a series of tweets.

Omokri pointed out that the Nigerian presidential fleet was worth over $200 million, while ASUU demanded less than $100 million.

He faulted the fact that the presidential fleet has about 10 jets to serve one president.

According to Omokri: “How much is ASUU asking for? Less than $100 million to fund universities. Buhari has 10 Presidential jets worth over $200 million.

“Why not sell eight and use the money for ASUU? The British PM does not have an official jet. These are the kinds of things Atiku would do!

“Nigeria has no national airline to serve 210 million people. But we have 10 Presidential jets to serve 1 President. No, be juju be that?

“That is why ASUU is adamant. Money is not our problem. Our issue is how we spend the little money we have! Atiku will change that!”

ASUU had been on strike since February 2022 over the government’s refusal to meet a 2019 agreement.

Part of the face-off is due to the government’s insistence on using IPPIS against UTAS to pay lecturers.

Meanwhile, ASUU had declared an indefinite strike following a breakdown of negotiations with the government.

ASUU strike: FG should have used $23m Abacha loot to meet our demands – Lecturers

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said the federal government should have used the recovered $23million Abacha loot to meet its demands.

ASUU president, Emmanuel Osodeke, stated this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television.

Last Tuesday, the federal government and the US reached an agreement to repatriate a new batch of funds looted by the former Nigerian Head of State, Sani Abacha.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, claimed the recovered loot will be used for the completion of the Abuja-Kano road, Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and the Second Niger Bridge.

But Osodeke said: “Let’s use a typical man as an example, you have a house and your child is seriously sick and you were paid money that you were not expecting. Where will you put the money?

“That child should be the first thing you will treat. Is it not? Before you will start thinking about how you are going to buy clothes.

“Your universities are shut for six months. You now have access to a fund you were not expecting, If you really love education, where should you put the money? In that particular place. They said they don’t have money. We need to love this country.”

Latest ASUU News On Resumption 17th September 2022

ASUU Gives FG New Condition To End Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Wednesday outlined new conditions to end its lingering industrial action.

The strike which was declared on the 14th of February lasted for six months.

The President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke while speaking on Channels TV called on the Federal Government to tell Nigerians the money it approved for revitalization, how much the money is and when it would be released.

Osodeke called on the Federal Government to be transparent on its position on the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

He advised the government to confirm if it has accepted the agreement ASUU had with their panel.

The ASUU President urged the Federal Government to come and tell the union if they have agreed and not address the press.

Osodeke said, “Government should tell us and Nigerians – the money that has been alleged to have been approved for revitalization – how much is it and where is it lodged? When will it be released?

“Three, have they accepted the agreement we reached with their panel? They should come and tell us this, and not go to the press.

“Strike is a symptom of a problem. Any day you sort out that problem, you will not have strike.”

Why We Embarked On Total, Indefinite Strike – ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has revealed the reason it converted the roll-over strike into a comprehensive and indefinite strike.

Members of NEC decided not to call off the six-month-old strike that entered the 197th day after most ASUU chapters voted that the strike should continue.

In a statement on Monday, ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, said the ongoing strike has turned into an indefinite strike after the federal government failed to meet all its demands.

The ASUU President asserted that the indefinite strike begins at 12:01am on Tuesday, stressing that the purpose of its strike action is to save public universities from dying.

He said the union empathizes with the students, their parents, as well as other stakeholders over the comprehensive, total and indefinite strike.

Osodeke added that ASUU reaffirms its belief in the sanctity of a stable academic system.

The statement reads: “ASUU NEC noted with pains, its concerns for Nigerian students who are also our wards and foster children and condemned Government’s seeming indifference to their plights. The Union empathizes with the students, their parents, as well as other stakeholders (including our colleagues who are undertaking their higher degrees) in the universities. ASUU reaffirms its belief in the sanctity of a stable academic system.

“Were it within our control, our universities would never have been shut for one day! However, ASUU was forced into taking this painful decision to prevent members of the Nigerian children from the ruling class and their foreign collaborators from further destroying whatever is left of our public universities. We are all victims.

“We need the understanding, solidarity and sacrifices of all to ensure that every qualified Nigerian youth who cannot afford the cost of private university education or foreign studies has unhindered access to quality university education. ASUU strikes are aimed at saving public education, and ensuring that Governments (Federal and State) use our common patrimony to support quality public university education. This is our collective obligation.

“In view of the foregoing, and following extensive deliberations on the government’s response to the resolution of 14th February 2022 so far, NEC concluded that the demands of the union had not been satisfactorily addressed.

“Consequently, NEC resolved to transmute the roll-over strike to a comprehensive, total and indefinite strike action beginning from 12.01a.m. on Monday, 29th August 2022.”

‘ASUU Is A Very Useless Union, They Should Be Scrapped’ – Gov. El-Rufai’s Son

Bashir, one of the sons of Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has described the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as a ‘useless’ union that should be dissolved.

Naija News reports that Bashir El-Rufai called on the Federal government to scrap ASUU, following the prolonged strike by members of the union.

In a post shared on the microblogging platform, Twitter, Bashir described the academic union as useless and should be scrapped and replaced with educators who care about students.

He tweeted: “ASUU is a very useless Union. They should be scrapped & replaced with educators that actually give a damn about students and how that translates to the future of this country.”

Meanwhile, ASUU has decided to extend its ongoing strike after a series of heated discussions.

According to the PUNCH, the decision was taken after the National Executive Council meeting at the union’s headquarters at the University of Abuja on Monday morning. Latest ASUU News On Resumption 17th September 2022

ASUU NEC In Crucial Meeting Over Strike

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is currently meeting in Abuja over the lingering strike.

Flippstack reports that the meeting, which started on Sunday night and slid into Monday morning, is taking place at its National Headquarters at the University of Abuja.

Members of NEC would decide if they would call off the six-month strike or continue with the industrial action that entered the 196th day on Monday (today).

As of the time of filing this report, the meeting was still ongoing amidst anxiety that the union may extend the strike based on the resolution of most of its branches.

A member of the NEC, who wants to be anonymous, told The Punch in Abuja that most local congresses held their meetings last week and voted for strike extension.

“We expect nothing less. Most of the congresses voted for an indefinite strike. The NEC takes decisions based on the reports from branches,” he said.

Another member said, “I can confidently tell you that the majority of ASUU branches across the country voted for an indefinite strike. Over 90% voted for an indefinite strike.”

Recall that ASUU commenced a nationwide industrial action on February 14 and has refused to end the strike due to the failure of the Federal Government to attend to its demands.

The major demands of the lecturers include the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement and the replacement of IPPIS with UTAS.

Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) have suspended their strike actions.

Emulate Jonathan’s Method To Resolve Strike, ASUU President Urges FG

Emmanuel Osodeke, president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has urged the federal government to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan in resolving the lingering industrial action.

The strike, which began on February 16, is a result of the government’s inability to fully address the union’s demands.

The industrial action has lasted for more than six months with the federal government, through the education and labour ministers, finding it difficult to reach a resolution.

Speaking on the way forward, Osodeke, in an interview with AIT’s Focus Nigeria, said the immediate past administration engaged the union in a 14-hour negotiation to resolve the issue.

He said the government of the day should set up a committee comprising people who love the country and can negotiate dispassionately.

“Government should for once go the way of Goodluck Jonathan. And in one night, we had that meeting for 14 hours,” he said.

“Open. Both sides were open, with no class, no power, and no sitting power, and we looked at all the issues and we resolved it within 14 hours.

“If this government can put out a strong team, if the president cannot be there, let him put a strong team together or people who are not part of those who are telling lies presently.

“People who love this country. They don’t have to be in government. If you can put this thing together and we meet to look at how we can resolve this national problem.”