The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to address outstanding issues concerning unpaid salaries and the implementation of agreements reached with the union.
The union expressed concern over the continued delay in resolving several welfare and salary-related issues affecting university lecturers across the country.
ASUU said some of its members were still owed salaries, while other outstanding matters arising from agreements reached with the Federal Government had yet to be fully addressed.
The union warned that failure by the government to take concrete steps towards resolving the issues could force it to take industrial action.
The development comes amid growing concerns over the welfare of lecturers and the condition of Nigeria’s public universities.
ASUU has repeatedly called on the Federal Government to honour agreements reached with the union, stressing that unresolved issues have continued to affect the stability of the university system.
Among the concerns raised by the union are outstanding salary payments, improved working conditions and the implementation of previously negotiated agreements.
The union has also complained about unpaid salaries owed to some categories of academic staff, including lecturers on sabbatical, part-time and adjunct appointments.
ASUU maintained that the continued withholding of salaries was unacceptable, particularly for university workers who had already rendered their services.
The union has therefore urged the government to urgently address the outstanding issues and prevent another disruption to academic activities in the nation’s universities.
The threat comes against the background of previous industrial actions by ASUU over funding, staff welfare, salaries and the implementation of agreements with successive administrations.
The union has warned that unless meaningful progress is made in resolving the outstanding matters, its members may be left with no option but to withdraw their services nationwide.
ASUU’s latest position is expected to put further pressure on the Federal Government to engage the union and resolve the issues before they escalate into another nationwide university strike.
