Katsina Varsity Lecturers Threaten Indefinite Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter in the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if the Federal Government continues to ignore its demands.

They called on the Federal Government to revert to the new draft agreement of the 2009 FGN /ASUU Renegotiation Committee report as a demonstration of good faith.

The ASUU chapter came to this resolution at the conclusion of their congress where the resolution was signed by the union’s branch chairperson, Jibrin Shagari and its Secretary, Mzungu Ignatius, reports Punch.

The resolutions explained why the congress held, listing some of the offers made by the FG in an effort to end the ongoing industrial action

“Today (Monday) August 22, 2022, the Federal University, Dutsin-ma branch of ASUU held a congress at the instance of the recent government offers on the contentious issues in the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement for which the union has been on strike since February 14, 2022. The so-called offer that the FG came up with include;

“A promise to add N60,000 to the salary of a professor and N30,000 for the junior academics, to be included in next year’s budget; a promise to adopt University Transparency and Accountability Solution; payment of two tranches of outstanding Earned Academic Allowance, which is also to be included in next year’s budget; 170 billion naira for revitalisation, to be included in the 2023 budget; no statement on the amendment of the National Universities Commission Act which is gathering dust at the national assembly; and another promise to release the white papers on the visitation panels,” the resolution read.

The union went ahead to describe the offers made by the FG as inconsiderate and insulting to the sensibilities of the union members, listing some measures they can take to improve them.

“The FUDMA congress viewed the position of government on the issues as inconsiderate, in bad faith, and insulting to the sensibilities of the union members, and, therefore, unanimously resolved as follows: On renegotiation of 2009 condition of service for lecturers; there should be full implementation of Prof. Nimi Briggs-led committee report which is a product of collective bargaining as required by labour laws. On UTAS; government should provide timeline for its deployment, merely accepting it in principle is not enough.

“On the EAA (Earned Academic Allowances); the congress resolved that the two tranches proposed by government should be released immediately. On revitalisation fund; the congress notes that it is the duty of government to provide enabling environment for teaching and learning in her schools, therefore a timely release of the funds is necessary; On the bill to amend the NUC Act to curtail proliferation of universities without adequate funding; and the release of white paper on the visitation panels, the congress urged a concerted effort to fast-track the completion and passage of the bill and timely release of the white papers on the visitation panels respectively.

“Failure of government to address the issues as outlined above, the union should proceed with a total and indefinite strike action. The union branch is calling on the Federal Government to return to the New Draft Agreement of 2009 FGN/ASUU Renegotiation committee report as a demonstration of good faith,” the resolution read.