The Academic Staff Union of Universities has threatened a nationwide strike.

The union decried the failure of the Federal Government to appoint Governing Councils for Federal Universities.

The union also faulted what it described as the nonchalant attitude of the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to matters pertaining to academics in Nigerian Federal Universities. The body of academics, during an ongoing press briefing at the University of Abuja, also faulted the 35 per cent salary increment for professors and the 25 per cent salary increment for other academics in the university system.

The body said it saw the increment as a wage award that could be withdrawn by the government anytime it deems fit.

Speaking during the ongoing briefing, the President of the union, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke noted that it has given the Tinubu-led government enough time to set things in motion.

Osodeke noted that the union was also concerned over the failure of the Federal Government to appoint members of Governing Councils for Federal owned universities.

Osodeke also noted that the dissolution of the governing councils was illegal as it was against the principles guiding the existing universities.

Recall that the National Universities Commission had, on June 22, 2023, announced the dissolution of governing councils of all federal universities and boards of other agencies and parastatals in the country.

The NUC directive was based on a similar one three days earlier by President Bola Tinubu ordering the dissolution of the boards of all government parastatals, agencies and companies.

Details later…