Latest ASUU News On Resumption, ASUU Strike Update Today, 1st September 2022

Latest ASUU News On Resumption, ASUU Strike Update Today, 1st 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 1st 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, Thursday, 1st September 2022

Latest ASUU News On Resumption 1st September 2022

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 1st 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 1st 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.”

Education Minister Jets Out Of Nigeria Amidst Lingering ASUU Strike

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu has reportedly traveled out of the country, amidst the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Naija News reports that the latest development was made known on Thursday, in Abuja after an inquiry to get the latest update on the face-off between the government and ASUU.

The source who spoke with PUNCH confirmed that the supervisory minister in charge of negotiation with the academic body (ASUU) has jetted out of the country.

Although the country where the minister went to, and the reason for the travel were not revealed, however, Adamu is expected to come back to the country on 2nd, September 2022.

ASUU to discipline members for sharing palliatives from Orji Kalu

Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUAU, chapter, has disowned its members that visited Senator Orji Kalu recently at his Igbere country home.

The union, in a statement issued yesterday, in Umuahia, dissociated itself from the said visit, which it said it was not privy to and never authorized.

In the statement, jointly signed by the Chairman, Professor Michael Ugwuene, and Secretary, Paul Nwiyi, the branch vowed to probe the said visit and discipline those found culpable.

“ASUU MOUAU hereby dissociates itself from the aforementioned visit and the consequent palliative sharing,” the statement said.

It further read: “The attention of ASUU MOUAU, has been drawn to reports in the media about the visit by some academic staff of MOUAU to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu at his Igbere home, where according to the reports, the striking lecturers” were given palliatives and enjoined to end the strike.

“The public is hereby enjoined to take notice that ASUU MOUAU was not aware of, was not invited, and did not authorize or approve any such visit and did not request for, neither did it receive any palliatives from Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

“ASUU MOUAU, hereby assures the National Executive Council of ASUU that the branch is investigating the visit and the members of the branch found culpable shall be subjected to the disciplinary process of the union.”

Meanwhile, the union, in a separate statement, rejected the proposed 35 percent and 25 percent salary increases for professors and other ranks, respectively.

ASUU States Conditions To End Strike Immediately

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Thursday, revealed how the Federal Government can resolve its lingering strike in one day.

The National President of the union, Emmanuel Osodeke, said the industrial action will end if the federal government prioritizes its demands.

Osodeke during an interview on Arise TV said leaders in Nigeria would look for an end to the strike if their children were schooled in the country.

He further stated that if the children of Nigerian leaders are schooled in the country they will feel the suffering that they are going through.

The ASUU president charged Government to prioritize education like Nnamdi Azikiwe and Awolowo and older leaders did in the past.

Ekiti State University Calls Off ASUU Strike, Directs Newly Admitted Students To Resume

The Ekiti State University (EKSU) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called off its industrial action.

Naija News learnt that stakeholders in the University met on Sunday, 21st August 2022 to discuss issues on the lingering strike.

The stakeholders noted that the strike is having a socio-economic effect on lecturers and all other stakeholders (parents, children, alumni).

Participants at the meeting said in the interest of the student, it is important for all members of staff currently on strike at the University to resume official activities.

The stakeholders also charged the University Management to reopen the university without further delay for the continuation of academic activities.

EKSU directed all newly-admitted students for the 2021/2022 academic session to resume on Monday, August 29, 2022, for screening, registration and orientation programme. Latest ASUU News On Resumption 1st September 2022

Frustrated Parents Decide To Assist Buhari Govt Financially In Generating Income For ASUU

The National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has sought the audience of the Federal Government over the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) industrial action.

The parents are proposing to assist with the demands of the union by offering to pay a levy of N10, 000 per session to help the government in making more funds available for universities.

NAPTAN’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Ademola Ekundayo, disclosed this during an interview with PUNCH on Tuesday.

Ekundayo, while complaining about the prolonged strike, said parents were at the receiving end of the continuous battle between ASUU and the government.

He said, “We have submitted a letter to the Office of the Education Minister, seeking for the audience where we hope to discuss a proposal.

“We are proposing a sum of N10, 000 per parent every session that will be directly paid to the universities. That will be our own contribution apart from other statutory payments in making more funds available to the universities.

“It can be called parent support levy for universities. We are at the receiving end of the industrial action. We plead with the ASUU and Federal Government to immediately resolve their differences.”

Adeyanju Backs ASUU On Continuous Industrial Action

Socio-political activist, Deji Adeyanju has backed the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to continue its ongoing strike.

Recall that the National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, had said the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union is set to meet next week Monday to deliberate on some issues.

He said the union’s NEC would meet and consider the offers by the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government for it to end its ongoing strike.

Osodeke, however, said his union was yet to get any offer from the Buhari government officially.

Recall that ASUU, who had been on strike since February 14, had three weeks ago extended it for another four weeks that would terminate next Monday.

Taking to his Twitter page on Monday, Adeyanju supported the union to continue the industrial action and asked the lecturers to resist the bullying and tyranny of the federal government.

He said if the country’s educational system was working, many Nigerians will not be paying millions in private universities nor will politicians’ children be going abroad.

He wrote: “ASUU has my 100% support to continue the strike. They should resist the bullying and tyranny of the Govt. If our educational system was working, many of us will not be paying millions in private universities neither will politicians’ kids be going abroad. ALUTA CONTINUA!”

ASUU Fixes Date To Consider FG’s Offer, Decide On Calling Off Strike

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is set to meet next week Monday to consider the offers by the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government for it to end its ongoing strike.

Recall that ASUU, who had been on strike since February 14, had three weeks ago extended it for another four weeks that would terminate next Monday.

It was gathered that the meeting of ASUU’s NEC may also determine whether the present administration would penalise the union.

Speaking to Vanguard, the National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said his union was yet to get any offer from the Buhari government officially.

He said: “We have been negotiating with them through collective bargaining, and whatever they have should not be made to us on the pages of newspapers. It should be done the way it is expected to be done. Our main problem with the government is that there is trust deficit. They will say something and will do another thing.

“After the Memorandum of Action was signed last year with them, they were supposed to pay some money in two tranches starting from August last year, but they did not do the needful.

“As for other unions suspending their actions, ASUU is not a one-man show. We will look collectively at whatever is presented to us. But as of now, nothing has been officially offered.”

FG Mulls Proscription Of ASUU Over Lingering Strike

The Federal Government is considering proscribing the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) if it fails to call off the prolonged strike.

the government is mulling the action after it approved an additional N100 billion for the university sector as part of the understanding in the re-negotiation of the 2009 Agreement.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had also disclosed that N50 billion was equally approved to be shared by the university-based unions as earned allowances.

The four unions are ASUU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

In a chat with Vanguard, multiple sources in the Presidency and the Ministry of Education said the government is considering proscribing ASUU after an offer was made to the union.

One of the sources said the government has approved a 35 per cent increase in salary for professors and a 23.5 per cent increase for other lecturers.

He added that the government also approved N50 billion for earned allowances for the striking unions, stressing that there is no need for ASUU to continue their strike.

He said: “Because of the priority President Muhammadu Buhari has paid to education, he has approved an additional N100 billion for the universities and about N57 billion for the Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

“This is part of the understanding with the unions on the re-negotiation of the 2009 Agreement. The government has also approved a 35 per cent increase in salary for professors and a 23.5 per cent increase for other lecturers. The government also approved N50 billion for earned allowances for the striking unions.

“It will be unpatriotic on the side of ASUU not to reciprocate the government gesture and call off the strike for our children to go back to school. The government is not also unmindful of the cooperation of SSANU and NASU for being patriotic.

ASUU Strike: Mass Resignation As Lecturers Dump Universities For Greener Pasture Abroad

As the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike lingers, the National President of the union, Emmanuel Osodeke has raised alarm over the mass resignation of lecturers from the nation’s universities for greener pastures abroad.

Emmanuel who spoke with PUNCH on Sunday lamented that many lecturers are now engaged in farming and other economic activities, while a large number have left the country.

The union President said many of its members were forced to venture into other sources of livelihood over the Federal Government’s refusal to meet some of their demands, including payment of seven months’ backlog of salaries accrued during the strike.

Osodeke expressed concern for the country, stressing that the FG believes it is punishing lecturers but the action is to the detriment of Nigeria.

He: “So many lecturers are leaving to engage in farming and others; lecturers are tired of the treatment they’re receiving from the government and because of this, they are looking for alternatives. So many more will leave even after the strike too.

‘’I pity the country; Nigeria will be the loser for it. Instead of coming to the table; look at how they will solve the issue, rather, they believe in punishing lecturers. It’s so sad. Your lecturers went on strike, you believe they will become hungry and come back to beg. Many lecturers will also leave to venture into other areas; some are also looking at becoming self-employed.”

Strike Continues As ASUU, FG Meeting Ends In Deadlock

The lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) looks set to continue after the association’s meeting with the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government ended in deadlock on Tuesday.

Flippstack understands that a team of the Federal Government led by Nimi Briggs met with the representatives of ASUU at the headquarters of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

However, reports revealed that the team did not place any fresh offer before ASUU, it only begged the union to suspend its ongoing strike.

“The meet with the FG’s team was headed by Professor Nimi Briggs and it started by 12:00pm and ended by 3:00pm. There was no new offer on the table, they simply begged us to call off the strike,” the top ASUU official told The PUNCH.

“The lecturers left angrily, though we cannot really ascertain what was discussed with them as you can see, we were not invited, but the proposal presented was rejected”, a top ministry official also added.

Also speaking at the meeting, a member of the ASUU National Executive Committee stated that the government was “unserious” with the negotiations.

He said, “They are not serious. I can’t go over the details with you because the president is responsible for disseminating the information. The proposal presented was unreasonable. There is no hope in sight.”

On his part, ASUU president, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke told The PUNCH that, ‘‘It wasn’t good,” referring to the meeting.

“We didn’t sign anything; they did not come with anything good. I can’t go into details. We will talk to our members first before we talk to the press. We represent our members.’’ Latest ASUU News On Resumption 1st September 2022

ASUU Speaks On When Strike Will End As Union Meets FG Today

The national president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke on Monday stated that the union would meet with the Federal Government today (Tuesday).

According to Osodeke, the union and the Federal Government are meeting to address its demands which led to the ongoing strike.

The ASUU President speaking on when the union would end its strike said the decision of the Federal Government would determine the next step.

Osodeke while speaking during an interview on Channels TV said ASUU will call off the strike if the Federal Government agreed to its demands at the meeting.

He said, “If we go into that meeting tomorrow and the government says, what you have bargained for, we are willing to sign, the strike will be called off.”

This is coming after the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ongoing industrial action of the ASUU.

According to Keyamo, ASUU is on strike because of the agreement the PDP-led government signed with the union in 2009.

Keyamo further stated that between 1999 and 2015, when the All Progressives Congress took over power, ASUU has gone on strike 12 times, amounting to 900 days.