Pro-Chancellors Urge FG to Prevent Fresh ASUU Strike

The Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities (COPSUN) has appealed to the Federal Government to take urgent measures to prevent another strike in the nation’s universities as tensions with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) continue.

In a communiqué issued after its 69th meeting in Abuja, signed by Acting Chairman Prof. Ayodeji Omole, the pro-chancellors cautioned that Nigerian universities would struggle to cope with another round of industrial action.

“The nation cannot afford another strike in the university system, as institutions are yet to fully recover from the disruptions caused by the last crisis,” the communiqué stated.

ASUU’s Demands and Protests

ASUU recently organized nationwide protests to push for the implementation of the renegotiated 2009 FG-ASUU agreement. The union has long demanded improved salaries, better conditions of service, sustainable funding for universities, institutional autonomy, and a review of the laws governing the National Universities Commission.

COPSUN’s Recommendations

To avoid further conflict, the pro-chancellors urged the government to:

• Increase annual budgetary allocations to education.
• Involve COPSUN representatives in negotiations and dispute resolution whenever university unions are engaged in national trade disputes.

“Governments must strengthen universities by reviewing and increasing budgetary allocations to education every year. COPSUN should also participate in negotiations with university-based unions to ensure more effective conflict resolution,” the communiqué noted.

The body further advised governing councils to operate strictly within the provisions of university laws in order to prevent unnecessary clashes with vice-chancellors and other principal officers.

Commendation for Moratorium on New Universities

In a related move, the pro-chancellors commended the Federal Government for placing a moratorium on the proliferation of new universities. They observed that the decision would help consolidate and strengthen existing institutions, rather than overstretching limited resources.

The call by the pro-chancellors comes at a time when Nigeria’s education sector faces growing pressure to balance the demands of academic unions, financial sustainability, and quality service delivery.