Notwithstanding the mediation planned for Tuesday by the House of Representatives, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) continued its protest against the prolonged dispute between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) by threatening to shut down the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Security forces were deployed to the airport on Tuesday to pre-empt the protest against the strike that has lingered for over seven months.
ASUU embarked on the industrial action on 14 February demanding government’s implementation of the Memorandum of Action on funding for revitalisation of public universities, which was signed in December 2020.
Other are Earned Academic Allowances, renegotiation of the 2009 agreement and the deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) for staff payment, among others.
The House of Representatives is to meet on Tuesday with the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) and other stakeholders to find lasting solution to the lingering strike embarked by the union.
NANS insisted that irrespective of the intervention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the protest at the airport would go on.
As a consequence, there is heavy security presence around the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in the nation’s capital on Monday.
Soldiers secured the airport to prevent the protest. At least five military vehicles with armed soldiers took positions in and around the airport.
The House of Representatives’ meeting ASUU and other stakeholders was announced by the Clerk of the House, Mr Yahaya Danzaria.
He said the meeting is geared towards finding a lasting solution to the lingering strike embarked upon by ASUU.
According to him, the House is deeply concerned about the renewed strike which seems to have defied all efforts made to find solution.
He added that the House is concerned there had been no agreement reached between the disputing parties, adding that the House is more worried about the negative consequences of the strike on the future and quality of education of the teeming youths.
He said the youth had been kept at home for the past six months despite the intervention of the House and several well-meaning Nigerians overtime to see that the matter was resolved.
“In the light of the foregoing, the House hereby request for another opportunity to come together with stakeholders and leadership of ASUU to seek a amicable resolution”.
He said that this was without prejudice to the fact that the matter was already in the Industrial Court.
Last week, Education Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu told a meeting of Pro-Chancellors and Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities that the Federal Government would not sign any agreement it could not implement.
Adamu however said the government could only afford a “23.5 percent salary increase for all categories of the workforce in federal universities, except for the professorial cadre which will enjoy a 35 percent upward review”.
He also said N150 billion would be provided for in next year’s budget for the refurbishment of federal universities, with another N50 billion for the payment of outstanding academic staff allowances.
The minister said the meeting of the heads of universities, convened at the instance of NUC, became “necessary and urgent due to certain misconceptions and misinformation in the public domain, regarding the ongoing strike action by ASUU”.
