The Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ) says there is no going back on its on going strike as 80% of the chapter voted for continuation

Prof . Biodun Ogunyemi , the union ’s National President , told the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) on telephone in Abuja that the strike would be total and indefinite.

The union leadership , after its executive committee meeting , declared the strike continues toll the FG yield to it request .

Ogunyemi said chronic under-funding of the sector through low budgetary allocation, which went from 11 per cent in 2015 to eight per cent in 2016, did not go down well with the union .

He pointed out the failure of government to implement the 2009 agreement and the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) as some of the reasons for embarking on the warning strike.
The president said that its members were tired of what they described as “government ’s empty promises ’’ in setting up its negotiation team for the review of agreement as consistently requested by ASUU since 2012 .

“There shall be no teaching , no examination and no attendance of statutory meetings of any kind in any of our branches while the strike lasts .’’

According to him , the union will put machinery in place to ensure that there is total compliance during the strike..

He explained that the essence of the strike was to draw attention of concern stakeholders and the general public to the challenges that the unions, universities and other stakeholders in the sector were facing.

“Nobody will say before we exhaust the warning strike some issues cannot be addressed if government want to be sincere with our cause.
“We are doing this because we want Nigerians to come into the matter and ensure that these issues are given adequate attention they deserve
.
“Our lecturers are given 40 per cent of their salaries , which is just not encouraging, as this will lead to poor commitment in carrying out their jobs .

“I am sure nobody will like a 40 per cent university education or 40 per cent teaching of various courses including research development and output .

“That is why we have to take the matter before the National Assembly, which we believe , will come into the matter just like the Nigerian parents .’’.

ASUU also uses this medium to wish all student happy salah .