The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said its members were now forced to pursue non-academic endeavours to support themselves as the strike action continues.

Since February 14, 2022, ASUU has been on strike in support of a number of demands, including greater welfare, the revitalisation of public universities, and academic autonomy.

The government’s choice to not accept the union’s requests, according to ASUU President Prof Emmanuel Osodeke in an interview with Punch, is damaging the country.

After the Federal Government pledged N50 billion to pay earned allowances for university staff, including ASUU members, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Education Institutions (NASU), on Saturday, suspended their strike actions.

However, given that ASUU is still on strike, activities in public universities are anticipated to be restricted.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had said ASUU rejected the government’s proposal over the “no work, no pay” rule.

The union has insisted the government must pay for the six months during which its members exited classrooms.

So many lecturers are leaving to engage in farming and others; lecturers are tired of the treatment they’re receiving from the government and because of this, they are looking for alternatives. So many more will leave even after the strike too,

he said.

I pity the country; Nigeria will be the loser for it. Instead of coming to the table; look at how they will solve the issue, rather, they believe in punishing lecturers. It’s so sad. Your lecturers went on strike, you believe they will become hungry and come back to beg. Many lecturers will also leave to venture into other areas; some are also looking at becoming self-employed.

SaharaReporters had on Monday reported that ASUU would hold its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting next Monday to decide on the lingering strike.

The NEC meeting next week would decide on the offers by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the over six months’ old strike.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.