On Wednesday, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve various outstanding issues.
In a statement, ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke voiced anger with the government’s lack of commitment and delay tactics, claiming that these activities are exacerbating the crisis in the public university system.
The Union wants to complete the revision of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021 and release the withheld earnings from the 2022 strike action.
“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
Apart from implementing the 2021 agreement, ASUU is also demanding 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.
The union is also seeking funding to revitalise 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.
Other issues include the proliferation of universities by Federal and State Governments, the implementation of visitation panel reports 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.
