Exactly a month after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) called off its eight-month strike at the order made by the National Industrial Court (NIC) noting lecturers to resume; It is however set to embark on a fresh one.
The reason for the protest was made known to Channels Tv by ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke on Monday over the half-payment made to lecturers by the Federal Government in October.
The half-paid salaries were frowned upon by the union who believes that it is deliberate on the part of the Federal Government to settle for a ‘pro-rata’ mode of payment to University lecturers’ in a bid to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers.
Prof.Osodeke confirmed to Channels Tv that the planned protest was organized at the branch levels of ASUU nationwide and each branch of the academic union would choose its dates.
In the same vein, Dr. Dele Ashiru, the chairperson of ASUU, University of Lagos branch, also acknowledged the truism of the strike action and condemned the decision of the FG on the “no work no pay” tagging it as an aberration.
“This is not only an aberration but a contravention of all-known rules of engagement in any contract of employment for academics the world over,” the union stated.
Ashiru in a conversation with Tribune on Sunday revealed that the essence of the strike is to draw the attention of Nigerians both at home and abroad to ASUU’s strong dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s plans for their pay.
The protest will be organized at the branch level of the union across public university campuses nationwide and it will take place as a free-lecture day for all lecturers who are members.
He said UNILAG-ASUU had fixed Tuesday, November 15, for its own rally.
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