ASUU Threatens Strike, Issues Ultimatum To FG

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, threatening to embark on another strike if lingering issues dating back to 2009 are not addressed.

The warning comes as ASUU continues to push for the fulfillment of key demands that have remained unresolved despite several negotiations.

ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, in a statement released on Wednesday, expressed the union’s frustration with the government’s failure to act on promises made. Among the top concerns is the completion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, based on recommendations from the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021.

The union also demanded the release of salaries withheld from university staff during the 2022 strike action. Osodeke emphasized that the government’s lack of commitment and use of delay tactics were worsening the crisis in Nigeria’s public universities.

“In view of the foregoing, ASUU resolves to give the Nigerian Government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, beginning from Monday, September 23, 2024, during which all the lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the membership of the union,” the statement read.

ASUU warned that it should not be blamed for any industrial unrest that may follow if the government fails to address the issues within the stipulated time frame. The union noted that it was offering the government a final opportunity to avert a major crisis in the education sector.

Among ASUU’s demands are the payment of withheld salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). The union also called for the payment of outstanding third-party deductions, such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions, which have yet to be disbursed.

Other critical issues highlighted by the union include the need for adequate funding for the revitalization of public universities, which was partially included in the 2023 Federal Government Budget. ASUU is also calling for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances, which were also partially captured in the 2023 budget.

Additionally, ASUU raised concerns about the unchecked proliferation of universities by federal and state governments, the implementation of the reports from visitation panels to universities, and the reversal of the “illegal” dissolution of Governing Councils. The union also reiterated its demand for the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) to replace the controversial IPPIS system.

As the ultimatum clock ticks, all eyes are on the government to see if it will address these long-standing issues or risk plunging the nation’s public universities into another strike.
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