The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has escalated its standoff with the Federal Government by issuing a fresh 14-day ultimatum to resolve longstanding welfare and funding issues plaguing Nigeria's public universities, warning of an imminent strike if demands are unmet.
In a strongly worded statement released on September 25, 2024, ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke expressed deep frustration over the government's "lack of commitment and delay tactics," noting that the new deadline extends a previous 21-day ultimatum issued on August 20, which expired without meaningful progress.
The extended ultimatum began on Monday, September 23, 2024, leaving the government with until October 7 to act, or risk "industrial disharmony" for which ASUU disclaims responsibility.
The union's grievances, some dating back to the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, include:
Renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement: Immediate conclusion based on the 2021 Draft Agreement from the Nimi Briggs Committee, which has lingered for over seven years amid economic hardships.
Release of Withheld Salaries: Payment of three-and-a-half months' salaries deducted due to the union's eight-month strike in 2022.
Unpaid Salaries for Special Appointments: Compensation for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct roles impacted by the controversial Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Outstanding Deductions: Release of third-party payments like check-off dues and cooperative contributions, budgeted in 2023 but still unpaid.
Earned Academic Allowances and Revitalization Funding: Implementation of allowances and university revitalization funds partially captured in the 2023 federal budget.
Adoption of UTAS: Replacement of IPPIS with the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) for better payroll management.
Other Concerns: Reversal of the illegal dissolution of university governing councils and curbing the unchecked proliferation of new universities without adequate funding.
ASUU's National Executive Council (NEC), which met at the University of Ibadan on August 17-18, 2024, decried the government's failure to honor previous Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) from 2013-2020, arguing that recent wage awards do not substitute for collective bargaining outcomes.
Prof. Osodeke emphasized that the union's patience is wearing thin, stating, "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."
He urged Nigerians to hold the administration accountable, warning that unresolved issues continue to erode the public university system's integrity.
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