The Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) branch at the University of Abuja has started an indefinite strike to raise awareness of events that affect the union. At the conclusion of its congress, which was held at the institution’s permanent site on Thursday, the union declared its intention to go on strike.
Members of the UniAbuja ASUU have been at odds with Prof. Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, and Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’allah, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, on the procedures for selecting a new VC. On March 15, 2024, an advertisement was published in a national daily requesting a substitute for Na’Allah.
At a conference, ASUU members, however, rejected the advertisement, labeled it “illegal,” and claimed it was not from the governing council.
According to Sylvanus Ugoh, the Chairman of UniAbuja ASUU, only the governing council has the authority to publicize the VC’s seat when it is declared empty under the Universities Miscellaneous Provision Act of 1993, as amended in 2003 and 2012 (Section 3, subsections 1 and 2).
He maintained that no other body or person has the legal authority to start the process of designating a successor VC.
“You will recall that the university administration placed an advert on the vacancy of the post of a Vice-Chancellor on Friday 15th March 2024,” Ugoh had said.
