The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike due to the Federal Government’s failure to fulfil the terms of the 2009 agreement reached with the union.
Professor Timothy Namo, the Bauchi Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, issued the warning during a press conference on Friday in Jos.
He said that the union had initially issued a 21-day ultimatum following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held between August 17 and 18, but the government had not addressed any of their concerns.
“As we speak, the government has not honored any of the agreements or addressed our concerns. After the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum, we issued another 14-day ultimatum starting from September 23,” Namo said.
He added that Nigerians should hold the federal government accountable if ASUU decides to go on strike and shut down public universities.
The unresolved issues include the non-conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, the non-release of three-and-a-half months’ salaries owed to academic staff, unpaid salaries of academic staff on adjunct appointments, and outstanding third-party deductions.
Namo also pointed out the poor funding for the revitalisation of public universities, the non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) as outlined in the 2023 budget, and the proliferation of universities without adequate support.
ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke, in a separate statement last week, expressed the union’s frustration with the government’s delay tactics, noting that the lack of commitment was worsening the crisis in the public university system.
The union seeks the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s 2021 draft agreement, along with the release of withheld salaries from the 2022 strike.
“We are giving the Nigerian government another 14 days, beginning from September 23, 2024, to address these lingering issues.
“The union should not be held responsible for any industrial action that may arise from the government’s failure to take this opportunity to avert a crisis,” Osodeke said.
The union’s demands include funding for the revitalisation of public universities, payment of earned academic allowances, and the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
With the ultimatum ticking down, the possibility of another disruption in Nigeria’s public university system looms if the federal government does not act.
