The Academic Staff Union of Universities has issued a warning of a potential nationwide strike.
They expressed frustration over the Federal Government’s failure to appoint Governing Councils for Federal Universities. Additionally, the union criticized what they perceive as the apathetic approach of the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government towards academic matters in Nigerian Federal Universities.
Speaking during a press briefing at the University of Abuja, the academic body also contested the recent salary increases of 35 percent for professors and 25 percent for other university staff, viewing them as precarious wage adjustments subject to government withdrawal at any time.
Speaking during the ongoing briefing, the President of the union, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke noted that it has given the Tinubu-led government enough time to set things in motion.
Osodeke noted that the union was also concerned over the failure of the Federal Government to appoint members of Governing Councils for Federal owned universities.
Osodeke also noted that the dissolution of the governing councils was illegal as it was against the principles guiding the existing universities.
The National Universities Commission had, on June 22, 2023, announced the dissolution of governing councils of all federal universities and boards of other agencies and parastatals in the country.
The NUC directive was based on a similar one three days earlier by President Bola Tinubu ordering the dissolution of the boards of all government parastatals, agencies and companies.
