The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has joined the nationwide warning strike in compliance with the directive of its national executive.

Anthony Odiwe, the chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), OAU chapter, made this known during an interview with journalists on Monday in Ile-Ife.

Mr Odiwe said that the warning strike across all public universities in Nigeria was due to the federal government’s failure to meet its demands.

He added that the 14-day notice, issued on September 28, had lapsed without any substantial response from the relevant authorities.

Mr Odiwe said that after a national executive council meeting, ASUU observed the neglect of the university system and the government’s refusal to implement the previous agreement reached with it.

According to him, the union thought that this government would address the lingering issues in the university system as promised when it came to power, that “no strike would disrupt the academic session”, but the reverse is the case.

The ASUU chairman said that the union was fighting for its rights, having tried enough to dialogue with the government, support and cooperate with it, with the hope that things would be better, but to no avail.

Mr Odiwe explained that currently, ASUU was demanding the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, release of the withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, and sustainable funding of public universities.

He mentioned others as: cessation of the victimisation of lecturers in government universities; payment of outstanding 25-35 % salary arrears.

According to him, payment of promotion arrears between four to seven years and release of withheld third-party deductions (cooperative contributions), among others, were their requests.

The chairman maintained that the union could not fold its arms and allow its members to continue suffering, for they have done enough by cooperating with the federal government, but it seems they are not ready to address the issues on ground.

Mr Odiwe condemned the welfare of the university academics and the renegotiation of their condition of service document, which contained issues of funding and autonomy, submitted by the committee constituted since last year, which has not been attended to to date.

He, therefore, appealed to the federal government to ensure a speedy response to all their demands and ensure revitalisation of universities, provision of a good working environment,  infrastructure and a conducive environment for staff and students.

Mr Odiwe urged the federal government to stop threatening ASUU members with “no work, no pay” because their salaries presently were not adequate remuneration for their services, not to mention pay for their labour.

(NAN)