The outcome of the National Executive Council meeting of the Academic Staff Union of Universities secretly held in Kano has been to extend the strike action.
A memo sent to members after the meeting read in part, “…based on feedback from branches, the union resolved to clear some grey areas before any further action. If we must remove strikes as a regular feature in our University system, then we must get things sorted out permanently. Be steadfast as we await next congress meeting.”
ASUU members are said to have been disgruntled over the allowances that have been shared by university management among university staff. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU) are said to be benefitting more from the N40 billion released as allowances for staff, whilst ASUU members are receiving less. This has apparently grieved some members of ASUU who believe they should benefit as they instituted the strike action.
A source said, “ASUU members got less than they deserved from the allowance while other unions fed fat from it; it looks as if we only fought for other unions. Members are really angry about this,” he said, noting that these were some of the issues that would be tabled at the congress of the union later in the week.
He added, “The issues are the 2009 agreement which is due for re-negotiation and our salary. We felt that until these are resolved, it will be futile to call off the strike. So the strike continues.”
The leadership of the Union is expected to communicate its position to President Jonathan shortly.