Reps committee visits UniAbuja ASUU over ongoing strike

A house of representatives committee has visited the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) to intervene in the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. 

On May 2, a faction of UniAbuja ASUU declared an indefinite strike over a lingering dispute with the varsity’s management.

The dispute relates to the ASUU branch’s interest in a multi-stakeholder microfinance bank, promotion procedures, election for faculty deanship, and alleged illegal appointments.

The varsity’s leadership had described the strike declaration as emanating from a “disgruntled faction at the union”.

The UniAbuja vice-chancellor has also been answering a court case over the controversial conduct of its internal council election.

NAN reports that Abubakar Fulata, the chairman of the reps committee on university education, visited UniAbuja to urge the ASUU branch to end the strike.

Fulata explained that ending the strike was necessary to prevent destabilising the university’s academic calendar.

The lawmaker said the visit aligned with the constitutional provisions empowering legislators to carry out oversight functions over ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) and ensure compliance with the Appropriation Act.

Fulata urged the management of UniAbuja to adhere to the provisions of the 2024 Appropriation Act.

He also advised the institution to seek additional ways to fund the university instead of relying almost absolutely on the government.

In his remarks, Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, UniAbuja’s outgoing VC, commended the lawmakers for their visit and intervening.