 Now the Academic Staff Union of University of Zassu has urged its chapters across the country to sensitize members of the public on the situation between the Union and the Federal Government as it declared Monday, February 7th as a lecture free day in a bid to enhance the sensitization. The National President of the Union, Professor Immanuel Ossetoko, lamented how the Federal Government ignored the implementation of some agreement the two parties entered into in 2020. Ossetoko said if the Federal Government fails to do the needful, an indefinite strike would be inevitable. Now joining us on the news at this time is the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of University of Zassu, University of Abuja Dr. Umar. Thanks for joining us at this time. You're welcome. Now Ossetoko embarked on a nine-month strike action in March 2020 following its disagreement with the Federal Government over the funding of the universities and implementation of the integrated payroll and personal information system, which according to the Union negates the autonomy policy for the universities. Now tell us, has anything changed recently? Well, nothing has changed significantly. Starting from funding for the virtualization of public universities and academic allowances, universities, transparency, accountability, solution, UTAG, promotion, and real to our members. Renewed position of 2009 ASU-SGN agreement and the inconsistent is also among all these issues brought before us in the university system in Nigeria. And since fall back to 2nd August 2021, the last meeting that were called by Minister of Labor and Employment, in attendance with NUC representatives for Minister of Education, Finance, Salaries and Income and Wages Commission, representatives of MISA, representatives of budget office, TECA and ASU team. All these issues have been given a timeline on that it will be solved and implemented before October 2021. But as we are today, nothing has been done as part of all these issues I have raised. So nothing has changed. Well, that is sad enough. But today has been declared a lecture day in versus across the country. Has it attracted any reactions from the federal government? No, no reaction. Apart from what we heard from NIREC, that is the traditional rulers and the religious leaders, when they met with the Minister of President and they were hiring that the President said he will honor the agreement with ASU. And these are normal promises, which is not new to us. I will say that nothing has changed. And what we agreed at the last NEC meeting in Abuja is for all the branches within ASU in public universities in Nigeria to mobilize and sensitize our members. And in each day of these Congresses in various universities, the day of the Congress lecture is declared free, which will enable all our members to come and discuss the way forward. So these are the details of the Congress that they want to declare as a lecture free day. All right. From what we understand, there is a planned strike. So why would this particular strike be different? Do you see any positive impact on this time around? Come again. You know, from what we hear, there is a proposed strike. So would there be any positive impacts this time around? You see, ASU does not declare strike, maybe at the pages of newspaper. But the point is that all our members across the country are irritated because of the natural attitude of the federal government of these issues. And for instance, the renovation of 2009 agreement in which the committee set up by the federal government have worked tirelessly with our union to get the document drafted. And the same government promised that within the pace of that October that the Ministry of Education should set up a small committee to look into the draft document to be taken to the presidential committee on salaries and wages for input. And onward submission to the Mr. President for subsequent approval. Since that October, nothing has been heard of on that. Look at the issue of UTAs. The government on its part challenged our union that we should get an alternative to IPTIA, which is to be produced within one year. Our union worked tirelessly and paid and get UTAs ready, which neither government agencies subjected to end user tests and works on. And in their reports, they are judged that the UTAs is successful. Since that time, it has not been deployed to the university for use. So what we are saying in this case, we will have a government that is not conscious of what is the plight of the educational system. Going by all this, what do you do? It is a question of sensitizing the Nigerian society. And all many Nigerians, including the traditional lads, the religious leaders, to know that any acts that could come out of this sobu, also should not be played rather than the such a government. All right, thank you so much. Indeed, we have been speaking with Dr. Kasim Omar. He's the ASU chairman, University of Abuja chapter. Many thanks for being a part of the news now on Plus TV Africa. Thank you, you're welcome. Hello. Hope you enjoyed the news. Please do subscribe to our YouTube channel and don't forget to hit the notification button so you get notified about fresh news updates.