UniAbuja Lecturers Oppose Call for Indefinite Strike

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin 

A group of academic staff of the University of Abuja has announced opposition to the indefinite strike called by members of the university’s Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU). 

The ASUU of the institution had declared an indefinite strike action since March 2024 over non-election of provost and deans of faculties and advertorial for the about-to-be vacant position of the vice chancellor. 

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on the issue on Friday, the group of the academic staff of the university led by the HOD of Agricultural Engineering, Ambassador Gana Yisa and Dr. A.G. Kari, Dean and former convener of ASUU National Political Committee, said, “Members of the ASUU, “desperately wanted a strike to satisfy their personal interest but never  the larger interest of ASUU members and the University of Abuja.”

The lecturers added, “It is very imperative to address Nigerians on the misrepresentation and sectional interest represented by the ASUU leadership of the university of Abuja in declaring an indefinite strike action over highly questionable issues. 

“This process was fraught with patterns strange to ASUU declaration of strike action. The university vice-chancellor had since released time table for the election of Deans in manners that it will not cripple the University activities, especially, the ongoing students’ first semester examination. 

“The process since started, four substantive Deans have been elected and by Tuesday, 7/05/2024, it will be the turn of faculty of Law as others follow appropriately. If the basis for the strike was genuinely about the election of deans, would an indefinite strike facilitate the process or put it far off?”

On the advertorial for the position of vice-chancellor, the lecturers stated that five federal universities advertised for the position of vice-chancellor and none of the five varsities embarked on strike. 

The lecturers explained, “The question begging the mind of everyone, staff and the public is why would ASUU, University of Abuja alone, proceed on indefinite strike when university of Maiduguri, Usman Dan fodiyo University, Sokoto, ATBU Bauchi and others sustain the sanctity of stable academic calendar on their campuses?”

“We say no to strike over issues that are not peculiar to the University of Abuja. We vehemently demand that ASUU must work for ASUU and not a hidden cabal out to take the university of Abuja back to the inglorious yesteryears. 

“A decision to go on an indefinite strike without at any point, seeking members of ASUU’s vote for, or against is absolutely not the ASUU procedure for calling strike. So, the so-called strike remains unrepresentative of the larger members of ASUU and cannot stand.”