ASUU begins indefinite strike in Plateau varsity

The Plateau State University (PLASU) chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has embarked on an indefinite strike to demand improved welfare and working environment.

According to NAN, the ASUU chapter announced the industrial action in a statement jointly signed by Hassan Zitta and Deme Bitrus, its chairperson and secretary, on Tuesday.

The union said the decision to declare strike was reached at its congress held on Monday.

It also said the industrial action followed failure of the state government to honour the agreement it entered with the union on March 2, 2021.

The varsity’s ASUU chapter disclosed that some of the issues include rising insecurity around the institution and non-payment of earned allowances.

Other reasons for the strike, the union said, were paucity of accommodation for both students and staff and need for government to construct more lectures halls.

“At our congress held on Monday, Dec. 20, members reviewed the level of implementation of Plateau State Government/ASUU-PLASU agreement,” it said.

The body said the government had failed to “address security concerns by deploying the services of armed civil defence corps”.

It added that the state government also failed to locate a functional police outpost in the university host community and did not settle the national minimum wage arrears within the first quarter of 2021.

It further alleged that the government had failed to immediately release N70 million as part payment of the first tranche of earned academic allowance arrears.

ASUU said as of the time of its congress, the second tranche of N72 million in October, 2021 has been long overdue.

It also accused the government of failure to complete, among others, the payment of mainstreamed earned academic allowances for the 2019/2020.

The development comes amid threat by the national body of the union to also declare strike over federal government’s failure to meet its demands.