The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has commenced a nationwide industrial action following the inability of the Federal Government to respond to its demands.
The announcement of the commencement of the strike was made on Sunday night by the President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi.
This followed a meeting of the National Executive Council of the union at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State on Sunday night.
Ogunyemi told newsmen that all entreaties made to the Federal Government to honour the agreement with the union fell of deaf ears and they had no other alternative but to begin the strike action.
Specifically, the union accused the government of not implementing the Memorandum of Action signed with it, declaring that the strike would be total as all federal and state varsities would join the strike.
Ogunyemi said: “Having waited patiently for action and meaningful negotiation with reasonable men using the principle of collective bargaining, ASUU at its NEC meeting of 3rd and 4th November 2018 at the FUTA resolved to resume the nationwide strike action it suspended in September 2017 with immediate effect.
“This strike will be total, comprehensive and indefinite.
“Our members shall withdraw their services until the government fully implements all outstanding issues as contained in the MOA of 2017 and concludes the renegotiation of the 2009 agreements.
“We have today (Sunday) been subjected to 20 years of continued re-colonization under alleged democracy in which the ruling circle has been regrouping among themselves in their various factions they call political parties.”
Ogunyemi alleged that the government was not interested in public universities as the children of the top politicians and rich men in the society patronise private universities at the detriment of public institutions.
