ASUU Embarks on Indefinite Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has embarked on an
indefinite strike following the failure of the federal government to
implement part of the 2009 agreement reached by the two parties.
The union's demands include the upward review of the retirement age
for professors from 65 to 70; adequate funding to revitalise the
university system; progressive increase of budgetary allocations to
the education sector by 26 per cent; transfer of federal government
property to universities; setting up of research and development units
by companies; payment of earned allowances; and renegotiation of the
signed agreement.
Briefing journalists in Lagos yesterday, Chairman of the University of
Lagos (UNILAG) branch of the union, Dr. Karo Ogbinaka, said after its
National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Olabisi Onabanjo
University (OOU), Ogun State, it directed its members to down tools
immediately as a result of the federal government's failureto pay the
academics earned allowances which included excess workload,
administrative responsibilities, and postgraduate supervisory
allowances, among others.
He said the agreement which the parties signed had stipulated that the
sum of N100 billion would be paid. However, the federal government had
complained that theamount was too much and was subsequently reduced by
80 per cent.
According to him, "The federal government had said that it forgot to
include it in the supplementary budget and even went ahead to further
reduce the earlier amount agreed on.
"As it is now, neither the old one, nor the new one has been paid. Our
members felt that this is more of an insult.We are demanding for what
is within the scope of the economy."
He said a professor who supervises postgraduate theses is supposed to
be paid N15,000 per student, adding, "The federal government has not
paid any lecturer the theses supervisory allowance.
"As lecturers, you are supposed to teach for a particular hour, if you
teach beyond that, then it is excess workload. The truth is that
people should be paid for the jobs they are doing."
Ogbinaka expressed regrets that the country was currently witnessing
internal brain drain, saying first class graduates who are supposed to
work within the academia had made their way to other sectors, adding:
"Our institutions can no longer attract foreign scholars and students
which used to be the case some years ago."