By Busari Kabirat
Members of Academic Staff Union of Universities has also joined the ongoing nationwide industrial action initiated by the organised labour consisting of Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress. This is coming after the Federal Government refused to meet up with the demand of the unions on minimum wage.
Emmanuel Osodeke, who is the association’s President, had in a statement on Monday, addressed the branch chairpersons and zonal coordinators of ASUU, giving directive to lecturers in universities nationwide to join the industrial action as an affiliate of the congress.
Statement reads: “The NLC has declared an indefinite strike action beginning from Monday, 3rd June 2024, as a result of the failure of Government to conclude the renegotiation of minimum wage for Nigerian workers and reversal of hike in electricity tariff.
“Our branches are hereby enjoined to join in the strike action as an affiliate member of Congress.
“Consequently, branch chairpersons are to mobilise all members to participate in the strike action. Yours in the struggle.”
The union had during a press briefing at the University of Abuja faulted the 35 per cent salary increment for professors and the 25 per cent salary increment for other academics in the university system.
However, the union made it known that it saw the increment as a wage award and that the government could withdraw any time, that is why the body decided to join the strike as an affiliate of NLC and might continue even after FG resolves the minimum wage issue with the striking unions.
