Academic activities in public universities may be suspended if ASUU goes on another industrial action and the union has accused the federal government of mistreating lecturers

-A member of ASUU, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, justifies the resolve by the union to embark on strike if FG fails to upholds its commitments

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that lecturers in public universities may embark on another industrial action.

FG Lied, We Didn’t Reach Agreement To Suspend Strike, Says ASUU

The chairman of ASUU in the University of Ibadan, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, said victimization of members and non-payment of salaries may prompt a fresh industrial action, The Nation reported.

He alleged that since the union suspended the strike on December 24, 2020, many lecturers were still being owed salaries of between two and 10 months.

Akinwole accused the federal government of violating its promise not to victimise lecturers.

The ASUU chief said:

“The suspension of the strike was based on an agreement reached and a ‘Memorandum of Action’ signed in good faith between the government and ASUU at the stakeholders’ meeting held on the Tuesday, 22nd December, 2020.

”A major common position agreed to (and expected to be respected) by the government and ASUU was that nobody shall be victimised in any way whatsoever for his/her role in the process leading to the Memorandum of Action.”

ASUU Denied Knowledge Of Any Agreement To Call Off The Ongoing Strike

According to The Punch, he argued that while ASUU has kept to the agreement by returning to classes and performing their respective duties, the federal government reneged on its part.

The senior lecturer warned that the government’s actions could have negative consequences on public tertiary education in Nigeria.