The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the resolution of several longstanding issues affecting the public university system. This follows frustrations over the government’s failure to address key concerns, including the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and the release of withheld salaries from the 2022 strike action.
ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed the union’s dissatisfaction in a statement on Wednesday, accusing the government of employing delay tactics and neglecting the needs of the educational sector. He warned that the continued inaction was deepening the crisis in 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,” Osodeke said. He further cautioned that the union should not be blamed for any industrial unrest that may arise if the government fails to act within the given timeframe.
ASUU’s demands include the implementation of the Nimi Briggs Committee’s 2021 Draft Agreement, which aims to address key issues in the 2009 agreement. The union is also calling for the payment of withheld salaries, including those of staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments, who have been affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). Additionally, ASUU is pushing for the release of outstanding third-party deductions, such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.
Other demands include funding for the revitalization of public universities, as captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget, payment of Earned Academic Allowances, and the implementation of visitation panel reports to universities. ASUU also seeks to reverse the dissolution of Governing Councils and to replace IPPIS with the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) for managing payroll.
ASUU’s ultimatum raises concerns about a potential return to industrial action if the government fails to meet these demands, threatening further disruption to Nigeria’s already strained educational system.
