Latest ASUU Strike Update Today Monday 16 May 2022

ASUU Strike Update Today 2022: The Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo has explained why it has been difficult for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government to reach a compromise on the lingering industrial action.

ASUU on Monday resolved to continue its ongoing nationwide strike for another 12 weeks which started on February 14, 2022 after several reconciliation meetings between both parties hit brick walls.

But speaking in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, at a press conference to herald a year-long activities to mark the 40years anniversary of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), the minister said the ASSU strike has turned a strife that has worsened the education sector.

According to him, “Labour disputes are highly technical issues and need the relevant technical requirements and knowledge to interrogate.

“The issue here are two, dispute of rights and dispute of interests. Among the demands of ASUU is the issue of stagnant payment which I also fully support. In fact, it is embarrassing for a Prof to be receiving N350,000 as monthly salary although minimum wage should only be for the rock bottom workers. These are issue of right.

“The real conflict is between ASUU and the Ministry of Education. Issues of funding and other agitations are dispute of interest which need a different approach, not to go on strike Even if you go on strike over dispute of rights, how long can that last is another question.

“Strike is temporary stoppage of work but when you go on strike for 22 months and you shut down the system, that has become a strife.”

The minister, who was represented by the Director General of MINILS, Comrade Isa Aremu, said the institute has mapped out new courses on dispute and dialogue, adding that the situation could have been worse if not for the efforts of the institute.

Obaseki Blames Rise in Drug Abuse on ASUU Strike

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has blamed the increasing rate of drug abuse in the state on the lingering strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Addressing journalists after the state’s security council meeting at Government House in Benin City, he said drug abuse is the second biggest security threat in the state.

The security meeting was attended by representatives of various security agencies in the state.
He said the the state recorded 19 drug abuse cases for the month of February, 34 cases for the month of March, and 23 similar cases for the month of April.

Obaseki noted, “Drug abuse ranks among the top two of serious security concerns in our state. Our analysis shows that there is a high rate of consumption of illicit drugs in the last few months which is not unconnected with the lingering ASUU strike which has kept many students at home and idle.

“The strike is one of the factors that is driving the use of illicit drugs in our state. I therefore use the opportunity of this council meeting to appeal to ASUU and the federal government to do all they can to please end this strike as soon as possible for the interest of the children of this country so that we don’t keep them at home, destroying their lives.”

He added, “The idle mind is the devil’s workshop. One way we hope that we can reduce the use of drugs is if we take these children back to school.”

“I think the other is the rate of accidents. We have observed slight reduction because of the rain and we also want to use this medium to further appeal to the federal government that the major arterial roads, the major truck roads leading into Edo be repaired, particularly the Benin-Auchi and Okpekpe-Okene Roads.”

“These roads account for quite a number of the deaths we have recorded as a result of vehicular accidents. The state has enjoyed relative decline in other incidents, which shows that Edo is becoming safer,” the governor said.
In his response, Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abutu Yaro, said that the facts speak for itself, noting that Edo is safer now than before.

The Police Commissioner said the security agencies will continue to do their best in improving the security situation.

Nwajiuba says FG working on alternative funding structure for universities

The Nigerian government is currently working on proposals it can use to resolve the ASUU strike, including a new scheme in which universities implement a different way of earning funds.

This was disclosed by Emeka Nwajiuba, former Minister of State for Education and a presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in an interview with Channels TV on Sunday.

He stated that the implementation of alternative funding structures is a necessity for university autonomy.

What the former minister is saying

Nwajiuba apologised to Nigerian students for the continued strike, taking responsibility as their minister.

“On behalf of the FG, we want issues to be understood. We have had nearly 15 strikes in 20 years. ASUU has a case, they are making a case for the entire university system,” he said.

“The only problem is that we have asked ASUU that strikes can’t cure the problem. FG is saying we need our students back in school, as it hurts parents and students.

“We think ASUU may need to consider and work with government including needs assessment, allowances, this government has done more than any other government in meeting with ASUU.

On proposals FG can use to resolve ASUU, he stated that a new scheme in which universities earn a different way of earning money is being looked at

“This is something I will implement if president,” he stated, adding that “even if not implemented now, University autonomy law needs to be activated because you see, there are only 50 of these federal universities and there are 200 others. However, these 50 alone are more than 75 percent of the number of students in the entire university structure – about 2.2m of them.”

“So, it is important we give them a funding structure; we need to bring a funding structure to the table because this coming hand-in-cap to the Federal Government at all times cannot be continued and is not sustainable.

“We need to arrive at something sustainable and we have proposed that, I am sure the President will be looking at it,” he said.