COPING STRATEGIES AMONG MEMBERS OF ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES (ASUU) DURING THE 2022 STRIKE: A STUDY OF NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY AWKA

Abstract

Strikes among members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Nigeria havebecome a complex and reoccurring social problems with debilitating socio-economic andlivelihood consequences. Notwithstanding this, studies have neglected the issue of survival aswell as how union members coped during these strikes periods. This study therefore examinedthe coping strategies employed by ASUU members during the 2022 strike in line with the nowork-no-pay policy by the government using Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, AnambraState as a point of reference. Conflict theory was adopted as the theoretical framework. Thestudy adopted the mixed methods research design, using the multistage sampling procedure inthe selection of 400 respondents. The structured questionnaire and In-Depth Interview (IDI)guide served as instruments for data collection. The quantitative data was coded and processedusing the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Frequency tables andcharts were used to present, describe and analyze the data, while the qualitative data wasanalyzed using manual content analysis. One research hypothesis was formulated and testedusing chi-square inferential statistics. The findings of the study reveal that ASUU membersventured into alternative sources of income; and for many of them, business provided analternative source of income. Based on the findings of the study, the work recommended thatconflict resolution specialists should be consulted to mediate between ASUU and thegovernment by playing conciliatory role in settling trade disputes in other to save the soul ofuniversity education in Nigeria and prevent further occurrence of strikes.