Barely a week to the commencement of its planned nationwide strike, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has begun mobilising members across public universities in the country.
The mobilisation exercise, according to union sources, is aimed at ensuring full compliance when the industrial action eventually begins.
ASUU’s decision follows what it described as the federal government’s silence despite an earlier strike notice served on all relevant authorities, including the Minister of Labour and Employment, Maigari Dingyadi.
Union officials said the government had failed to address lingering issues bordering on lecturers’ welfare, revitalisation of universities, and payment of outstanding entitlements.
A senior member of the union, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said:
“We have been patient enough. The government’s silence after our notice only confirms its lack of seriousness in resolving the issues.”
ASUU is expected to hold a final meeting later this week to review the level of compliance among its branches and decide on the exact date for the strike to begin.
If the strike goes ahead, it could disrupt academic activities in public universities nationwide, raising fresh concerns among students and parents who have endured several rounds of industrial actions in recent years.
