Peter Obi Will Resolve ASUU Strike In One Day If Elected, Labour Party Slams Buhari

The Labour Party (LP) has slammed Buhari’s government saying its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will resolve all issues around the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike when he becomes president.

Yinusa Tanko, the spokesman for the LP, gave the assurance while speaking on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, September 29, 2022.

Recall, ASUU has been on strike since February 14, 2022, and has grounded academic activities in public varsities for over seven months.

The union is demanding the release of revitalisation funds for universities, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, and deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

The government had claimed to have addressed most of the union’s demands including the release of N50b for the payment of earned allowances for academic and non-academic and non-academic staff of universities but said the that the union will not be paid the arrears of the strike period.

ASUU has also insisted on not calling off the lingering strike until the arrears are settled.

Following the insistence of ASUU not to resume, the federal government, through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige dragged the striking university lecturers before the National Industrial Court (NIC).

However, reacting to the manner in which the government is handling the industrial strike by the ASUU, Labour Party spokesperson said; “I can assure you that the issue of ASUU [strike] or any other strike that has taken over in this particular country will not last more than one day under the leadership of Labour Party.”