By Mark Lenu
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has placed the Federal Government on a 21-day notice that it would embark on a nationwide strike. The notice was issued at the end of the NEC meeting, which was held at the University of Ibadan, and a copy is expected to be transmitted to the Federal Ministries of Labour and Education.
The reason for the strike notice may not have been unconnected with the breach of agreements between the FG and ASUU which has affected the nation’s university rating among other varsities in the world.
An Associate Professor with the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Steve Wordu told our correspondent that Nigerian universities ranked lowest in Africa. Although the strike is not an ultimatum but a notice after which the union shall embark on strike.
The aim of putting out the notice is to fulfill the requirement under labor laws so as to ensure that the actions of ASUU were done within the ambit of the law.
.Wordu said, “Nigeria is yet to implement the World Bank standard on the education budget. “This country ranks the lowest in terms of budgetary allocation for universities in Africa.” The academician also appealed to Nigerians to reason with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, adding that ASUU really wants the government to improve the university system.
