The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU, has embarked on an indefinite strike beginning from today August 14th. President of the academic union, Biodun Ogunyemi, announced this in a memo to lecturers dated August 12th. According to the memo, the union is proceeding on an indefinite strike because of the federal government’s failure to implement its 2009 agreement and 2013 memorandum of understanding (MoU). Other reasons listed for the strike include non-payment of salaries, non-payment of earned academic allowance (EAA), removal of universities staff schools from funding by government and non-implementation of provisions of the 2014 pension reform act with respect to retired professors and their salaries. The memo in part reads

“The national executive council (NEC) of ASUU met at the university of Abuja main campus, Giri, on the 12th of August 2017 to consider the results of a referendum from all branches in a bid to ascertain ways of convincing government to implement outstanding aspects of the 2009 agreement and MoU of 2013. The result of the referendum showed that an overwhelming majority of the branches of our union voted for the strike. In the light of the foregoing, and having exhausted all avenues to get government to fully implement the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement and the 2013 MoU as well as related demands, resolved to embark on a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action commencing Sunday, 13th August 2017.”

The memo warned lecturers not to supervise any examinations nor go to class to give any lecture.