By Gabriel Dike
Lecturers in most federal and state universities on Tuesday complied with the directive of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for indefinite industrial action.
The indefinite strike took took effect at midday Monday as some ASUU branches held congresses to enlighten members of the NEC of the directive and as well inform their university management of the action.
ASUU NEC which met at its national secretariat had directed members nationwide to commence an indefinite strike to protest the non-implementation of the 2009 FG/ASUU signed agreement.
Some branch chairmen told our Correspondent that members have complied with NEC directive by staying away from academic and research activities but because of the time frame for the strike to start, some students had lectures early in the morning.
At the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, the industrial action took off after its congress and the strike monitoring team led by ASUU-UNILAG chairman, Dr. Adelaja Odukoya went round to enforce compliance.
The ASUU-UNILAG monitoring team stormed the ongoing 12th Annual Research Conference and Fair and disrupted the proceedings asking participants’ who are academic staff to go home as the event wouldn’t hold anylonger.
The Education Rights Campaign (ERC) in statement made available to Daily Sun backed the strike and calls on government to immediately meet the demands in order to avoid a situation where students waste away at home for months.
The statement signed by the national Coordinator, Hassan Taiwo and national Secretary, Ibukun Omole also called on ASUU not to make the strike a sit-at-home action but organize activities like public rallies, leafleting, mass meetings and demonstrations should be organized regularly in and outside of campuses to ensure that the issues which have necessitated another strike are clearly explained to members of the public whose support and active involvement is vital if ASUU’s crusade to salvage the education sector is to succeed.
The demands of the union includes, the federal government breach of the 2009 FG/ASUU Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed agreement, on financial grant to state universities, review of conditions of service, non implementation of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and re -negotiation of the 2009 agreement.
Other outstanding issues are non provision of revitalization funds to public universities, non release of NUPEMCO operational licence, payment of half salaries to members and government owing universities outstanding N880 billion in intervention fund.