UniAbuja ASUU suspends 81-day strike over rejection of recruitment

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has suspended its strike.

Sylvanus Ugoh, Chairman of the University Branch of ASUU, spoke to journalists on Monday following a congress in Abuja.

The UniAbuja ASUU is at loggerheads with the university management because it protested against alleged illegal appointments and promotions.

The union members had disagreeing Some appointments were made without a Board of Directors.

The ASUU branch also rejected an advertisement for the vacant position of Vice-Chancellor by the then university administration led by Abdulrasheed Na’Allah.

they had began To express their demands, they started a strike on May 2nd.

Ugoh said on Monday that UniAbuja ASUU had suspended its strike after the union met with a new governing body of the university.

He said the council had promised to examine and consider all of the union’s demands.

Ugoh said the council had agreed, in accordance with due procedures, to cancel the controversial advertorial and publish a new one.

He said the council had also agreed to review staff recruitment and promotion procedures, particularly for the 2022/2023 season.

“In these 82 days, we have spoken to the former Vice Chancellor but he has not changed his position,” said the ASUU chairman.

“He refused to follow the rules in his position. He refused to comply with the law establishing the university and refused to follow the procedure. After all procedures failed, the union began a comprehensive and indefinite strike.

“Since the council was formed, the union has been working with the council and the university administration. The council met with the union last Thursday. They communicated with the union in writing, addressing the issues that were disrupting the strike.

“The Council has agreed to cancel the previously placed advertisement and re-advertise the position of VC. The Council has also agreed with the union to review the recruitment process, which was carried out without due process.

“The recruitment process for staff at the university is clear. There must be an advertisement in the national newspaper. These procedures were not followed. Therefore, the council has agreed to review the recruitment process and approach the union.

“They have also ordered that elections be held for the Dean of Facilities and the Provost of the College of Health Sciences.”

At the end of June, Aisha Sani Maikudi, a law professor, was present appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja.

This happened at a time when a process on the legality of the 10th University Council election was still pending.

Other issues that triggered the strike at UniAbuja included ASUU’s participation in a multi-stakeholder microfinance Banking companies.

Ugoh said the incumbent VC had informed that ASUU should take its seat on the board of the microfinance bank.

“Congress has unanimously decided to suspend the strike so that the university can address these issues,” the chairman said.