The University of Abuja branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has embarked on an indefinite strike. According to report, the Union called for indefinite strike following some unresolved issues between the management and the union.
This was made public by the Chairman of the UniAbuja ASUU, Dr. Sylvester Ugoh.
Speaking to Daily Trust, Ugoh said the issues in contention are many and have been pressing over time with the university administration.
According to Ugoh, at the crux of the matter was the last advertorial placed by the university on vacancy for the post of a Vice Chancellor. The ASUU branch Chairman said there is no Governing Council in place. He said, the act establishing the University does not give power to any other person for such advertisement except the Council.
“The University administration went ahead to do that despite the earlier warning by the union. And drawing its attention that it should not be done as it is an act of illegality. The University went ahead to do it and we requesting that the advert be withdrawn.
“The second,” he said, “is the refusal of the University administration to conduct elections into the office of Deans of Faculties. And for the post of Provost of College of Health Sciences. These are issues that have been with the administration of the University over time. Because the act of the university stipulates that position of Deans and Provost is by election. But that has not been done and some of those acting have been there for more than two years. And the university has refused to do what is lawful,” Ugoh said.
He also pointed to another issue which had contributed to the strike action. Ugoh pointed to the issue of micro finance that is in formation. He stated that in 2017, the Governing Council gave ASUU a position to be a member of the Board.
“We had our investments, which we paid over N4 million there from 2017. And the last letter we got from the University administration was that we have been removed as shareholders. That we don’t have a place in the Board of Directors. And we feel it is against what the Governing Council had earlier communicated to the union.”
The ASUU branch Chairman also stated that part of the reason for the strike is the issue of massive employment of staff without due process.
He said, “The act made it clear that on employment, “you have to advertise it on the national daily. And it can only be done by the Governing Council. But in the last couple of months the current Administration has employed not less than 300 staff into the university without due process. And we feel it is an act of illegality, it is impunity, and not giving regards to any law.
Ugoh also pointed to the issue of promotion exercise in the university. He pointed that it is the Council that promotes. And because the Council is not in place and the University has gone ahead to constitute interim team. Which is nowhere in our act to promote staff. And for us, it is an act of lawlessness and we feel that should not be allowed to continue.
“We cannot embark on strike without the trustees and principal officers of ASUU giving the permission. So, having fulfilled that process, they gave us permission to proceeds on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike. And that is why we declared the strike,” he said.
Ugoh, however, urged the Federal Government to constitute the Governing Councils for universities. He said their absence is creating a lot of problems in the university system.
The management of the University is yet to officially react to the situation as at press time.
source: Daily Trust
