The Academic Staff Union of Nigerian University (ASUU), LASU branch, has
commenced an indefinite strike.
The union announced the commencement of the total, comprehensive and
indefinite strike at a press conference held on Tuesday, at the institution’s
Ojoo campus in Lagos.
Addressing newsmen during the press conference, Chairman of the union,
Dr Adekunle Idris, explained that the academic staff of the university were
withdrawing their services to embark on a total, comprehensive and indefinite
strike action until the three core demands of the union were met.
The three core demands, according to him, were: a reversal of the LASU
school fees regime; repeal of the ‘no vacancy, no promotion’ policy of the LASU
administration and the implementation of the universities (Miscellaneous
Provision) (Amendment) Act, 2012 in LASU.
Idris also said that in the last two years, the union had observed
several problems confronting LASU and a number of practices in the
administration of LASU that were deemed unacceptable to the academic community;
“particularly in a university aiming to be a university of first choice.”
“By our collective assessment, these developments are inimical to long
term prosperity of the university, the students for whom the institution was
established and the career advancement of ASUU members.”
He further explained that the union met at different times with the
university administration, the Governing Council, the Pro-Chancellor, the
Chancellor, the Ad-hoc committee on the LASU crisis, the parent forum and all
concern without resolving the core issues at stake.
The union had in the past weeks, declared a trade dispute with an
initial 21-day ultimatum effective Monday, March 24, which expired on Sunday,
April 13. It gave another 14-day ultimatum which also expired on April 29 but
there were no acknowledgment nor responses from LASU governing council nor the
Lagos State government during those periods, the union leader revealed.
According to him, at the meeting, ASUU LASU provided convincing evidence
that the governing council had the authority to implement the new retirement
age for academics on the professional cadre, as well as the need to abrogate
the “No vacancy, No promotion” policy.
He also said the branch proposed a school fee regime of N50,000 maximum
across board for all students against the current fees being charged which has
been termed “outrageous and unaffordable” by various stakeholders.
“In the absence of any concrete progress in the resolution of the core
demands, the National Executive Council at its meeting, held at the University
of Ibadan, authorised the branch to embark on a total, comprehensive and
indefinite strike action to actualise the resolution of the core demands of the
branch.”
“It is a sad decision. We are compelled to take this decision and have
taken it with every sense of responsibility. We are well prepared for the usual
phases of engagement with authorities in Nigeria,” Idris said.
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