Fresh details suggest ASUU may have undermined the Federal Government’s negotiation efforts before declaring its ongoing warning strike, as both sides trade blame over failed dialogue.
Fresh revelations have emerged indicating that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may have sabotaged the Federal Government’s efforts to resolve recurring industrial disputes in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Government sources disclosed that discussions between both parties were ongoing until last Friday, days before ASUU announced its nationwide strike.
The meeting, led by Senator Lanre Tejuosho and attended by key ASUU officials, was described as “frank and constructive.”
“They promised to get back after the meeting, but they didn’t. The next thing we saw was their public announcement of a nationwide strike,” a senior government source told NAN.
Insiders claim the government had demonstrated responsiveness by opening dialogue within the union’s two-week notice period. However, ASUU reportedly failed to communicate its position before declaring industrial action.
Reacting to the government’s ‘no work, no pay’ threat, ASUU has launched a counter ‘no pay, no work’ stance.
Chairman of ASUU, Bayero University Kano, Prof. Ibrahim Siraj, said: “We are undeterred. We have seen this before. We have crossed the road. We’re also going to cross this road again.”
ASUU confirmed that academic activities remain suspended nationwide during the two-week warning strike.