The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed worry over the prolonged strike embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
Obi, in a tweet via his verified Twitter handle on Wednesday, regretted that universities have been closed for six months for students and tertiary education in the country.
“It’s time for FGN to engage in collaborative negotiations with ASUU, and in good faith. -PO”
“Nigeria is vastly polarized and wracked by deep divisions along religious, ethnic and regional lines. There is a staggering level of corruption. Our universities have remained closed for six months.
Recall that the ASUU strike started on February 14 due to “failure” on the part of the government to meet its demands.
The demands of ASUU include the payment of earned allowances, payment of revitalisation funds to universities, creation of visitation panels and implementation of the University Transparency Accountability Solution instead of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System for the payment of workers in the ivory towers.
ASUU leaders, who walked out of a meeting with the government on August 16, alleged that no offer was made to them.
On August 30, 2023, ASUU declared a total and indefinite strike. The decision was taken at a meeting of the union’s National Executive Council held on Sunday in Abuja.