Asuu strike latest news 2020

Here are the latest news updates on the ASUU strike in 2020:

Latest Update (December 2020)

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called off its eight-month-old strike, following a meeting with the Federal Government on December 24, 2020. The union had been on strike since March 2020, demanding better working conditions, improved funding for universities, and the implementation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement.

Key Demands

ASUU had been demanding the following key concessions from the government:

  1. Implementation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, which includes the payment of outstanding salaries and allowances to lecturers.
  2. Improved funding for universities, including the release of N1.1 trillion allocated to the education sector in the 2020 budget.
  3. Revitalization of public universities, including the provision of infrastructure, equipment, and staff development.
  4. Implementation of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) to replace the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Government Response

The Federal Government had been engaging with ASUU since the strike began, but the negotiations had been slow and contentious. In December 2020, the government agreed to meet some of ASUU's demands, including:

  1. Payment of outstanding salaries and allowances to lecturers.
  2. Release of N30 billion to universities to address infrastructure and other needs.
  3. Implementation of the UTAS system.

Impact of the Strike

The ASUU strike had significant impacts on the education sector, including:

  1. Disruption of academic activities, with many students unable to attend classes or complete their degrees.
  2. Loss of revenue for universities, as students were unable to pay tuition fees.
  3. Negative impact on the economy, as the strike affected the livelihoods of thousands of people employed in the education sector.

Conclusion

The ASUU strike was a major controversy in Nigeria in 2020, with both sides engaging in a prolonged and contentious dispute. While the strike has been called off, the issues that led to the strike remain unresolved, and it is unclear whether the government will fully implement the agreements reached with ASUU.