The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern warning, threatening to embark on an indefinite strike over the Federal Government’s continued failure to honor the 2009 agreement reached with the union.
Prof. Timothy Namo, the Bauchi Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, announced the union’s stance during a press conference held on Friday in Jos. He emphasized that the union had exhausted all avenues for dialogue and negotiation, leaving them with no other option but to take drastic measures.
Namo stated that the union, after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held between August 17 and 18, had given the government a 21-day ultimatum to address their grievances. However, he lamented that there has been no meaningful response from the government.
“As we speak, the government has not honored any of the agreements or addressed our concerns,” Namo said.
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Following the expiration of the initial 21-day ultimatum, the union issued another 14-day ultimatum starting from September 23, which is also approaching its deadline.
“So, we want Nigerians to blame the federal government if ASUU decides to down tools and shut down public universities,” Namo added.
Prof. Namo outlined several lingering issues that the government has yet to resolve, including:
1. Non-conclusion of the re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement: ASUU has been calling for a re-negotiation of the terms agreed upon more than a decade ago to address the evolving challenges in the university system.
2. Non-release of the three-and-a-half-month salaries of academic staff: Many academic staff members have not received their salaries for several months, adding to the financial strain on educators.
3. Unpaid salaries of all academic staff on adjunct appointments: The salaries of adjunct staff members remain unpaid, despite their continued service to the academic community.
4. Outstanding third-party deductions: The government has also failed to remit deductions made from the salaries of university staff to relevant third-party organizations.
READ ALSO: ASUU Issues 21-Day Strike Notice Over Unmet Demands
5. Poor funding for the revitalization of public universities: The union decried the inadequate funding allocated to the revitalization of public universities, which has resulted in poor infrastructure and learning conditions.
6. Non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA): Despite being captured in the 2023 budget, these allowances have not been disbursed to deserving staff.
7. Proliferation of universities: ASUU criticized the establishment of new universities without adequate planning and funding for existing institutions, further stretching limited resources.
8. Non-implementation of visitation panel reports to universities: The reports of visitation panels, which were intended to assess and recommend improvements for universities, have yet to be implemented.
If ASUU proceeds with the indefinite strike, it would once again paralyze academic activities in public universities across the country, affecting millions of students. The frequent disruptions in the academic calendar have already led to delays in graduation and a decline in the overall quality of education.
ASUU’s latest ultimatum is a clear indication of the growing frustration among academic staff. The union called on the government to urgently address the outstanding issues to avert another round of industrial action that could have far-reaching implications on Nigeria’s education system.