The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to address lingering issues affecting public universities or risk another strike. ASUU states that parents and guardians should hold the government responsible if they embark on strike.
In a statement signed by Bauchi Zonal Coordinator, Namo Timothy Aku, ASUU expressed disappointment with the government’s response to their initial 21-day ultimatum, which expired on September 14.
The statement read, “The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) met at the University of Ibadan on August 17-18, 2024, after which the Union gave the Federal Government of Nigeria a 21-day ultimatum to resolve all the lingering issues between the Government and the Union or risk the shutdown of the University System.
“The ultimatum which was communicated to the Federal Government through the Minister of Education elapsed on September 14, 2024.
“Unresolved issues include; conclusion of the re-negotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement; release of the three-and-half month salaries of academic staff; release of all unpaid salaries of all academic staff on adjunct appointment; release of outstanding third-party deductions; funding for the revitalisation of public universities.
“Payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) as captured in the 2023 Federal Government Appropriation and passed by the National Assembly; proliferation of universities by Federal and State Governments; implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities; illegal dissolution of Governing Councils; replacement of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) with the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) for payment of salaries and emoluments of academic staff.
“The leadership of the Union met on Thursday, September 19, 2024 to review Government’s response to the ultimatum and observed as follows:
“Government has failed to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Memorandum of Action (MoA) arising from the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, which has continued to precipitate crises in public universities.
“Government has failed to exit universities from IPPIS in spite of the Presidential directive in October 2023 and the court order.
“Government has failed to implement the white papers of the visitation panels and to amend the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act to stop the proliferation of public universities without any intention to fund these and the existing ones adequately.
“ASUU has noted with concern Government’s resort to old antics of time-buying, denial of documentation and lack of budgeting provisions to compound issues.
“It is a fact the funds were appropriated in the 2023 budget for payment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and the re-vitalisation of public universities, but no one knows what has happened to the money.
“We also wonder why academics have not been exited from the IPPIS, in spite of the Presidential directive to that effect.
“Claims of insufficient funds cannot be sustained as more funds have continued to accrue to the Federation Account after the removal of oil subsidy and devaluation of the Naira. It is just lack of prioritisation and political will.
“It is, however, unfortunate that Government has not taken advantage of these entreaties to engender harmonious industrial relation in the public universities.
“Consequently, ASUU has resolved to give the Federal Government another 14 days from Monday, September 23, 2023 to urgently address all lingering issues.
“The Union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony after expiration of the 14-day ultimatum.”
