Division In ASUU UniAbuja Over Declaration Of Strike

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) chapter have been divided over the declaration of an indefinite strike by the leadership union.

Osun Defender recalls that the leadership of ASUU UniAbuja announced its decision to go on strike on Thursday at the end of its congress held at the institution’s Permanent Site.

Following the declaration of the strike on Thursday, lecturers who align with the “Anti-Strike ASUU Members” group, disassociated themselves from the action.

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At the press conference where the strike was announced, the ASUU members opposed to the action and declared their intention to abstain from participating.

The Dean and former convener of ASUU National Political Committee, Abubakar Kari, along with the ex-Nigerian Ambassador to Japan and Head of Department (HOD) of Agriculture Engineering, Prof. M. Y. Gana, have expressed their concerns that a group of individuals, referred to as the “cabal,” are exerting undue influence over the local ASUU chapter led by Dr. Sylvanus.

According to Kari and Gana, this “cabal” is pushing for a strike, not for the benefit of ASUU members or the University of Abuja, but rather to serve their own interests.

Kari said, “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 the continuous opening of the university operations.

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

Kari stated that the so-called strike does not have the support of the majority of ASUU members and is therefore not valid.