The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has explained why it has not declared a nationwide strike yet as it had threatened to do so in recent times.

The union also disclosed that it is not against the ongoing nationwide strike by the Senior Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), saying they have the constitutional right to do so once they are convinced it is necessary.

The National President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, gave this position on Thursday in an exclusive interview with Nigerian Tribune.

He expressed disappointment that the government had not done anything tangible to address the concerns of ASUU since all these months except that ?we met with the newly constituted Renegotiation Team and adjoined the meeting till upper week.

?So, there was just nothing tangible yet from the government side including when our three and half months withheld salaries will be paid,? he pointed out.

According to Osodeke, ASUU as a body, has done all that are necessary to get the government addressing our concerns by meeting our demands, which are what we need to do before a strike can be declared and our members across campuses nationwide have already voted with up to 90 per cent of members approved that we should go on strike since government is not looking at our side.

?And we would have even declared strike but in our wisdom, we hold on to give government a benefit of doubt for a little more time, more so that a new Renegotiation Team has just been constituted.

?We feel we should give the committee a little space and if nothing concrete happens, we will surely embark on strike.

?So, we are just waiting to know what the Renegotiation Team is bringing to the table for us to take action if not favourable.

?We are doing these so as to exhaust all the opportunities so that Nigerians will not blame ASUU but the government if the union eventually declares strike for members,? he emphasised. (Nigerian Tribune)

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