The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to resolve outstanding issues or face another round of industrial action.
The union’s grievances, which date back to the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, have remained largely unresolved, prompting this latest threat.
In a statement released on Wednesday, ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke expressed the union’s frustration with the government’s continued failure to honor past agreements. The union is particularly concerned with the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, based on the recommendations of the Nimi Briggs Committee’s 2021 Draft Agreement.
Osodeke also highlighted the issue of unpaid salaries that were withheld during the union’s 2022 strike. He accused the government of using delay tactics, which he said have further deepened the crisis in the country’s public universities.
“In light of these unresolved issues, ASUU has decided to give the Federal Government an additional 14 days, starting from Monday, September 23, 2024, on top of the previous 21-day notice. During this period, we expect all lingering matters to be fully addressed to the satisfaction of our union members,” the statement read.
ASUU warned that should the government fail to meet its demands within this period, the union would not hesitate to resort to industrial action. They stressed that the government would bear full responsibility for any disruption in academic activities.
Among ASUU’s key demands is the payment of salaries withheld from staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct roles, many of whom were affected by the introduction of the controversial Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). The union also demanded the settlement of outstanding third-party deductions, including check-off dues and cooperative contributions, which have not yet been remitted.
ASUU also emphasized the need for adequate funding for the revitalization of public universities, as captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget. The union reiterated its call for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances, also partially included in the 2023 budget.
Other critical issues include the unchecked establishment of new universities by both federal and state governments, the implementation of recommendations from visitation panels to universities, and the reversal of what ASUU termed as the “illegal” dissolution of university governing councils. The union once again called for the replacement of IPPIS with the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), a system they argue is better suited for the university environment.
As the 14-day deadline approaches, the government is under increasing pressure to address these long-standing issues and prevent a fresh strike that could further disrupt academic activities across Nigeria’s public universities.
