The Academic Staff Union of Universities had on Wednesday, issued a 14-day strike ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve some of its persisting issues dating as far back as 2009.
Emmanuel Osodeke, the ASUU President had said in a statement that the body is seeking the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021.
The academic body had also called for the release of withheld salaries during the 2022 strike action, and expressed anger with the government’s lack of commitment and delay tactics, stating that these actions were generating a crisis in the public university system.
What They’re Saying
The statement read;
“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.
ASUU is also demanding the release of unpaid salaries for its staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments who were affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, and the payment of overdue third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.
It also said that it wants funding for the revitalisation of public universities, slightly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget, and the payment of Earned Academic Allowances partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget.
The other pressing issues included the proliferation of universities by Federal and State Governments, the implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities, the reversal of the illegal dissolution of Governing Councils, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution as a replacement for IPPIS.
