ASUSS threatens to sue Nasarawa government over strike

The Nasarawa State chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) has threatened to sue the state government over its decision to ban the union’s activities in the state.

State Chairman of ASUSS, Gabriel Agbashi in an interview with journalists in Lafia, said the matter was in the exclusive list and as such no governor has any power over teachers’ rights to embark on industrial action.

“The state government is not a party in the matter, therefore, it cannot prohibit the union from exercising it rights within the ambit of the law,” he said

He added that the national headquarters have directed their legal team to write to the government after which they would proceed to court.

He said instead of facing the real issues raised by the union, which borders on the welfare of its members, the government was trying to divert attention by claiming that the union was not registered.

“For six years under Governor Umaru Al-Makura, no teacher has been promoted or received his or her annual increment.

“The government is bringing the issue of non-registration because we demanded our rights and that the government should pay us our salaries for August 2016, percentage of November 2016 and February and March 2017,” he added.

Reacting on the matter, Nasarawa State Commissioner of Education, Tijjani Ahmed said as far as the government was concerned ASSUS was not registered, adding that the state government would not recognise any unregistered union or association.

The Guardian reports that the state government had in a statement signed by Al-Makura prohibited the activities of ASUSS following its decision to embark on strike.