(DDM) – Lecturers at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), have staged a protest rally, warning the Federal Government of an impending nationwide strike if their demands remain unmet.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the demonstration, held on Tuesday, followed directives from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) national leadership, urging branches across the country to intensify pressure on the government.
Speaking after the rally, ASUU-UNN Chairman, Comrade Oyibo Eze, said lecturers are prepared to embark on an indefinite strike should the Federal Government continue to ignore agreements reached with the union.
He condemned the government’s failure to honour commitments dating back to 2009, describing it as evidence that education is not a national priority.
Eze explained that the union had convened a congress before the rally, during which members unanimously agreed to support any nationwide action declared by ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC).
According to him, the congress demanded immediate payment of three and a half months’ outstanding salaries and implementation of all agreements previously signed with the lecturers.
The ASUU-UNN Chairman stressed that the union had exhausted dialogue and would escalate its action if necessary, holding the Federal Government responsible for any disruption in academic activities.
He revealed that ASUU’s NEC is scheduled to meet with government representatives on August 28, before convening on September 2, to decide whether to declare a full-scale strike.
The protest march saw lecturers carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Federal Government, honour the 2009 agreement between Government and ASUU,” and “Our wives and children are hungry, pay our three and a half months’ salary arrears.”
Other messages included calls for payment of wage awards of 25% and 35% and reminders that Nigerian lecturers are among the least paid globally.
The rally concluded at the university’s administrative building, where Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwo, addressed the union on behalf of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simon Ortuanya.
Prof. Ortuanya commended the lecturers for maintaining a peaceful approach and urged the union to consider a strike only as a last resort.
He promised to forward their demands to the Federal Ministry of Education for urgent consideration.
Observers say the protest highlights growing tension in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, which has suffered multiple strikes over funding, salaries, and infrastructure.
Stakeholders now await the outcome of the August 28 meeting, which could determine whether academic activities across universities will be disrupted again.