The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) branch at the University of Abuja has initiated an indefinite strike to highlight concerns within the union.
This decision was announced following a congress held at the institution’s Permanent Site on Thursday.
The core issue revolves around the disagreement between ASUU members and the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’allah, as well as the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, regarding the process for appointing a new Vice-Chancellor.
The dispute intensified after an advertisement appeared in a national daily on March 15, 2024, calling for applications to replace Na’Allah. ASUU members swiftly rejected this advertisement during a conference, labeling it “illegal,” and clarified that it did not originate from the governing council.
Sylvanus Ugoh, Chairman of UniAbuja ASUU, pointed to the Universities Miscellaneous Provision Act of 1993 (as amended in 2003 and 2012), particularly Section 3, subsections 1 and 2. According to Ugoh, these legal provisions empower only the governing council to advertise a vacancy for the Vice-Chancellor’s position when it becomes available.
Ugoh emphasized that no other entity or individual has the legal authority to kick-start the process of appointing a new Vice-Chancellor. He specifically referenced the university administration’s advertisement for the Vice-Chancellor vacancy on March 15, 2024, which ASUU members contested.
The strike initiated by the UniAbuja ASUU is a significant escalation in the ongoing dispute over the Vice-Chancellor’s appointment process. Further developments on this matter are expected to unfold.
