The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has resolved to give the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum in line with extant labour laws.
The decision to issue the federal government the ultimatum was taken at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Ibadan (UI) from Saturday 17th to Sunday 18th, August 2024.
According to a reliable source at the federal ministry of Education, the crucial NEC meeting also directed ASUU branches to conduct a referendum on whether to embark on strike or not, definite strike or staggered strike.
It was further gathered that the decision to issue the ultimatum to the government was based on legal advice given by ASUU lawyer, who advised the union to follow the due process as stated in labour laws.
He said the last strike was not suspended because of the legal action taken by the Federal Government, which dragged ASUU to the National Industrial Court (NIC) and the ruling that followed declaring the strike illegal.
According to him, branch chairmen were mandated by NEC to conduct a referendum before the end of the 21-day ultimatum.
ASUU’s demands include renegotiation of FG/ASUU 2009 agreement, payment of withheld salaries, use of UTAS for salary payment, promotion arrears, stoppage of ‘proliferation of universities’, revitalisation of public universities, outstanding Earned Academic Allowance, and end to victimization of union leaders and non-payment of salaries to members in some state universities.
The union had earlier stated that the federal government promised to include the demands in the 2023 budget, which was not done.
