By Amaechi Agbo

Enugu – The seamless academic activities that has projected the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, as the best among its contemporaries in the country could be punctured as the unions in the university have threatened to embark on an I definite strike from Saturday, January 18, 2025.

The threat to embark on the industrial action was contained in a circular issued by the the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of all unions on campus dated 17th December, 2024.

According to the letter tagged “Notice of Strike/Industrial Dispute”, jointly signed by all the chairmen and Secretaries of all the four unions on campus – Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU); National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT); Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU – and addressed to the Vice-Chancellor, ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, noted that the decision to embark on Indefinite strike was the management’s failure to respond to their demands .

The unions noted that should the management fail to act on their demands by defraying the outstanding arrears owed to ESUT workers at the expiration of the one month notice, between December 18 2024 and January 18 2025, the unions may not have any other option than to embark on indefinite strike

The circular reads;

NOTICE OF STRIKE/INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE

The Joint action Committee of all unions on Campus hereby wish to notify you and your management that the patience of all Esut workers who are represented in all the unions on Campus have been stretched Beyond their elasticity Limit.

It is close to (3) years (three) since you assumed office as the vice-chancellor of our premier University. The unions had on several occasions brought to your notice that we are being owned backlog of arrears of entitlements but unfortunately, all our appeals to you and your management to start addressing this demands has fallen on deaf ears.

Sir, the purpose of this communication is to notify you that you have between today, 17th day of Dec. 2024 and 18th day of Jan. 2025 to defray the outstanding arrears owed to Esut workers.

At the expiration of this one month notice, the unions may not have any other option than to embark on indefinite strike

Thanks for your anticipated co-operation.