The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has announced the commencement of an indefinite strike to address several demands, notably the appointment of a new vice-chancellor for the institution.
One of the union’s primary concerns is ensuring that the selection of the new vice chancellor aligns with the Universities Miscellaneous Provision Act 1993 (as amended).
The issue has become urgent as the tenure of the current vice-chancellor, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, nears its conclusion next month.
The decision to begin the strike was made during a congress held at the university’s permanent site.
ASUU alleges that there have been clandestine attempts by the federal government to impose a vice-chancellor on the institution without following due process.
According to ASUU UniAbuja chapter’s Chairman, Sylvanus Ugoh, the recent advertisement for the vice chancellor position, published in a national daily on March 15, 2024 seeking a replacement for Na’Allah, is deemed illegal.
According to Ugoh, it bypasses the university’s governing council, which is legally mandated to oversee such appointments as stipulated in the Universities Miscellaneous Provision Act of 1993, 2003, and 2012.