The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has announced that its members will not comply with the university management’s directive to sign an attendance register. This order, issued by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rasheed Na’Allah, was intended to show that lecturers are teaching or have resumed lectures.
ASUU’s strike, which began on May 2, 2024, addresses several grievances, including violations of establishment laws related to staff appointments and promotions in the absence of a governing council.
In an attempt to mitigate the strike’s impact and ensure academic activities resume, Prof. Na’Allah mandated lecturers to sign a daily attendance register starting today. On the university’s official Facebook page, he stated, “Having considered the views and pleas of concerned members of the university community, management has agreed to extend the deadline, earlier given to staff to sign the attendance register, to indicate that he/she is teaching or has resumed teaching on Monday, 3rd June, 2024. Members of staff who are away from the university, either on sabbatical or for any other reason, are advised to email their respective deans and copy the registrar via registrar@uniabuja.edu.ng. Deans are accordingly required to compile the attendance list for submission to the registrar before the close of office on Monday.”
However, Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, chairperson of UniAbuja ASUU, reaffirmed the union’s stance in an interview . He stated that the lecturers would not comply with the VC’s order, viewing it as an attempt to intimidate them without due process. “One of the issues was the employment without due process, which we say is illegal. Just on Friday, the vice chancellor released a circular to regularize the people he had just employed without due process. Even when we talk about solving the problem, he is still bent on proceeding with the illegal procedure. So, nothing has changed. We are where we are, and I know that members are not going to sign the register,” Ugoh stated.
The strike continues as ASUU members stand firm on their demands for adherence to proper procedures and the resolution of ongoing issues.
