The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has recently threatened that it will embark on strike if the Federal Government does not address numerous issues between the Union and it.
ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke, in a statement on Wednesday, gave a 14-day ultimatum to resolve the issues before the union takes its decision.
The following are the major seven reasons ASUU wants to embark on strike:
- ASUU seeks the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021, as well as the release of withheld salaries due to the 2022 strike action.
- ASUU demands the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, and the payment of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.
- ASUU seeks funds for the revitalisation of public universities, partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget, and the payment of Earned Academic Allowances partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget.
- ASUU seeks the proliferation of universities by Federal and State Governments.
- ASUU seeks the implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities.
- ASUU seeks the reversal of the illegal dissolution of Governing Councils.
- ASUU also seeks the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution as a replacement for IPPIS.
In the statement, Osodeke gave a flicker of worries with the government’s lack of commitment and delay tactics, decrying that these actions are fueling a crisis in the public university system.
“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 union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony that arises from the government’s failure to seize the new opportunity offered by ASUU to nip the looming crisis in the bud,” ASUU said
