The Plateau University chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has embarked on an indefinite strike over various unresolved demands. Dr Vincent Choji, the union chairperson at the university, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Jos. Choji said the union reached the decision during its congress held on Tuesday.
He said the strike was declared after the union's 14-day ultimatum expired. The chairman also said the strike was declared because the state government failed to meet its members' demands. He said that part of the issues included the non-implementation of the 2025 agreement reached between the union and the Federal Government.
“Our other demands include the commencement of the contributory pension scheme for our members, provision of safe and secure staff quarters and construction of trenches around the university’s perimeter fence. We also call for the cessation of the intimidation of union leaders, as observed in the letter to congress dated May 18, through the Registrar of the university and payment of 22 months’ arrears of the 25%/35% wage award,” he said.
The strike is a blow to the education sector. Students will suffer the most. The union's demands are not unreasonable, and the government’s failure to address them reflects the chronic underfunding of education. The strike is likely to continue until the government meets the demands, or the union is forced to back down.
This echoes the 2022 ASUU strikes, which also saw lecturers walk out over unpaid salaries. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: students left in limbo.
The winners: none. The losers: the students, who are denied their education, and the Nigerian education system, which suffers from chronic underfunding.
Bottom Line: Plateau University lecturers are on strike. The students are the victims. The question is how long the strike will last.