Controversy as ASUU UniAbuja declares indefinite strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja branch has commenced an indefinite strike on Thursday over staff promotion issues and placement of Advertorial for the vacancy of the post of Vice Chancellor without following due process among others.

The indefinite strike action was announced at the end of the congress ASUU UniAbuja chapter, held at the Permanent site of the institution.

Chairman of the branch, Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, told newsmen that the union had resolved to embark on a total and an indefinite strike with immediate effect.

But the declaration of the strike action was however, trailed with controversy as faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Abuja branch, ‘Anti-strike ASUU members’ have dissociated itself from the strike.

Ugoh had on his part said the strike became necessary, given the University’s refusal to conduct elections for the office of the Dean’s of faculties and Provost College of Health Sciences.

He also accused the University management of carrying out promotion of some staff without following due process.

Other reasons for the strike, according to the Union include, “Advertorial of the vacancy of the post of Vice Chancellor without following due process.

“Removal of ASUU University of Abuja from shareholder and member board of directors of the University of Abuja Micro Finance Bank and massive employment of staff without following due process.”

Meanwhile, faction of ASUU, University of Abuja branch, ‘Anti-strike ASUU members’ have said the University is never on strike, claiming that some individuals were only pursuing their personal interests and not those ASUU members in the University.

Speaking on behalf of other factional members, the dean and former converter, ASUU national political committee, Dr. Abubakar Kari and the ex-Nigeria Ambassador to Japan and Head of Department (HOD), Agric Engineering, University of Abuja, Prof. M. Y. Gana, addressed a news conference shortly after the declaration of the strike by the ASUU chapter on Thursday.

Abubakar Kari said the Anti-strike ASUU members would not join the strike.

The duo noted that those who are instigating Dr. Sylvanus led local ASUU, desperately wanted a strike to satisfy their personal interest but never the larger interest of ASUU members and the university of Abuja.

“Members of ASUU here, standing for several other members with like minds but unavoidably absent rise to reassure students, parents and members of the public that we will protect the sanctity of the University of Abuja robust academic calendar and continue to work for continuous opening of the university operations.

“We vehemently demand that ASUU must work for ASUU and not a hidden cabal out to take the university of Abuja back to the inglorious yesteryears. A decision to go on an indefinite strike without at any point, seeking members of ASUU’s vote for, or against is absolutely not the ASUU procedure for calling strike.

“So, the so-called strike remains unrepresentative of the larger members of ASUU and cannot stand.”

Speaking on the alleged advertorial for the about-to-be vacant position of the Vice chancellor, the members said so far, five Federal universities have advertised for the position of Vice Chancellor and none of the five varsities.

“The question begging the mind of everyone, staff and the public is why would ASUU, university of Abuja alone, proceed on indefinite strike when university of Maiduguri, Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, ATBU Bauchi and others sustain the sanctity of stable academic calendar on their campuses?

“We say no to strike over issues that are not peculiar to the University of Abuja!”

A group of academic staff from the University of Abuja has announced their opposition to the indefinite strike action called by members of the university’s Academic Staff Union (ASUU).

In a statement by some members of the group, led by the HOD of Agricultural Engineering, Ambassador Gana Yisa, and the Dean and former convener of the ASUU National Political Committee, Dr. A. G. Kari, the individuals expressed their view that members of ASUU “desperately wanted a strike to satisfy their personal interests, but never the larger interests of ASUU members and the University of Abuja.”

The statement also highlighted concerns about the process leading to ASUU’s call for the strike, stating that it deviated from the usual patterns associated with ASUU’s declaration of strike action.

“It is imperative to address Nigerians on the misrepresentation and sectional interests represented by the ASUU leadership of the University of Abuja in declaring an indefinite strike action over highly questionable issues. This process deviated from the usual patterns associated with ASUU’s declaration of strike action.

“The demands of the Union, upon which the strike has been predicated since March 2024, were two:

1. Non-election of provost and Deans of Faculties
2. Advertorial for the about-to-be-vacant position of the Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Gana noted that the university vice-chancellor had already released a timetable for the election of deans in a manner that would not cripple the university’s activities, especially the ongoing students’ first-semester examination.

“The process has since started; four substantive deans have been elected, and by Tuesday, May 7, 2024, it will be the turn of the Faculty of Law, with others to follow suit accordingly.

“If the basis for the strike was genuinely the election of deans, would an indefinite strike facilitate the process or delay it further?