Lecturers Resume But The Main Issue Yet To be Addressed

It has been announced that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) must resume all academic activities as soon as possible on Friday 14th of October 2022. However, Saturday Punch says that concerning the plan for the new agreement and the no-work, no-pay policy, the academics are yet to get the assent of the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari. After an emergency meeting by the National Executive Council (NEC) held at the Comrade Festus Iyayi National Secretariat, University of Abuja, Abuja, on Thursday, the strike was suspended. It was also stated that the issues with the federal government, including the demand for an improvement in the welfare of its members, are yet to be critically examined.

NEC asserted that the issues in dispute are yet to be addressed properly while appreciating the relentless effort of the leadership of the house of representatives and other patriotic Nigerians who intervened in the matter.

ASUU, being a body of research-inclined fellows, would have approached the problem of tertiary education as a social disease requiring methodical investigation, says a report from Vanguard. The Union was  Ordered back to the classroom by the courts, still uncertain about the willingness of the government to keep past or future agreements.

“It is so regrettable that this strike took place, and not only that, it lasted for 8 months; this is so disheartening. We must make sure it never happens again,” says a NEC member.

Also, it was said that the government, Universities, Unions and citizens should begin a critical conversation about the future of public education in the country.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, also apologized to Nigerian students and parents for what he described as an “unduly prolonged strike” in addition, the Federal Government took legal steps when every negotiation channel failed.