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The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its branches to conduct referendums to back the proposed strike.
The Witness learnt that the union also ordered branches to begin campus protests, moving from lecture halls to university gates with placards.
A national executive member explained that branch congresses would decide the nature of the strike — whether indefinite or staggered — through voting, with results forwarded to zonal coordinators for NEC consideration.
“From the congress, the branches are expected to start the protest against the Federal Government’s non-implementation of the union’s demands through the university to their main gates,” he said.
He added that members would carry placards highlighting their plights while sensitising the public at campus gates. “The nationwide protest will be carried out simultaneously in all public universities tomorrow. It is to educate the public about the plights of Nigerian lecturers in public universities. This government is not serious about implementing our numerous demands,” he stated.
ASUU’s demands include:
Renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement
Reinstatement of sacked members in two state universities
Payment of 25/35 percent salary increment arrears
Settlement of promotion arrears
Stopping IPPIS deductions from members’ salaries
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, said the union had endured over two years of waiting without results. He rejected the government’s loan scheme, describing it as a “poisoned chalice.”
According to him, the Tinubu administration has deliberately delayed renegotiations and failed to implement measures to revitalise universities.
He warned: “Trust has been destroyed by the government. It is, therefore, up to them to either regain it to avert any strike or allow the strike to go on.”
