The Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) has shut down completely following the withdrawal of services of members of the Owerri chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Nigerian Students Union Issue 7 Days Ultimatum to Federal Government to Resolve Dispute with ASUU
The union members also shut down all non academic activities in the University in solidarity with the nationwide industrial action embarked upon by the academic body.
The University’s chapter of ASUU declared a “no teaching, no examination, no attendance to statutory meetings” stance until its demands were met by the Federal Government.
Announcing the actions of the union at a press conference, the chapter chairman Christopher Echereobia, accused the Nigerian Federal Government of taking deliberate steps to kill public education in Nigeria.
Speaking alongside the chapter secretary of the union, Chinedu Ihejirika as well as other members, Echereobia said that it was unfortunate that the government was sabotaging the country’s education sector.
The chairman said further that the ultimate aim of the strike action was to compel the Nigerian government to address various issues affecting ASUU which include;
“funding for the revitalisation of public universities based on the Federal Government- ASUU Memorandum of Understanding of 2012 , 2013 and 2017.
Reconstitution of the current government team to allow for a leader and chairman of the Federal Government- ASUU renegotiation team who has the interest of the nation and its people at heart.
Release of the forensic audit report on Earned Academic Allowances payments, settlement of all outstanding Earned Academic Allowances and mainstreaming of same into salaries , beginning with the 2018 budget.
Payment of Earned Academic Allowances to ASUU members at the University of Ilorin , Kwara State.”
The Chairman said further that the Federal Government must pay all arrears of short-fall in salaries to all universities that have met the verification requirements of the presidential initiative on continuous Audit.
“We demand the provision of a platform by the federal government for ASUU to engage governors on the proliferation of universities, underfunding of university education and undue interference in the affairs of state universities,” he concluded.
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