ASUU Urges Measures to Avert Nationwide Strike Over Unmet Demands

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on Nigerians to urge the Federal Government (FG) to meet its demands for improved welfare and administrative conditions in public universities, in order to prevent an imminent nationwide strike.

The union made this appeal on Friday during a press conference held at Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu.

Mrs. Happiness Uduk, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Calabar Zone, emphasized that the only way to avoid the looming strike is for both state and Federal Governments to address the union’s demands. She highlighted that ASUU has issued a two-week ultimatum for these demands to be met, warning that failure to do so will result in industrial action.

Uduk expressed frustration over the FG’s failure to honor its commitments under the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement, leading to stagnation in salary scales and overall welfare improvements.

“The government had an agreement with ASUU in 2009, which means ASUU members have been on the same salary scale for 15 years; nothing has changed. We are requesting that the government complete negotiations that began more than 13 years ago. If the negotiations had been completed and the document was with the President, we don’t understand why he hasn’t addressed it for a year now,” Uduk stated.

She urged both federal and state governments to address critical issues including the revitalization fund for public universities, payment of earned academic allowances, withheld salaries, high taxation, and victimization of ASUU members. Uduk strongly insisted on removing ASUU members in federal universities from the Integrated Personnel Payroll System (IPPIS), advocating instead for the University Transparency and Accountability Solution or any platform developed by universities.

Uduk also suggested replacing the FG’s student loan scheme with grants to alleviate financial stress on students and improve their academic pursuits. She called on the FG to stop the proliferation of new universities and focus on better funding for existing ones to improve overall standards.

In Abia, the ASUU zonal coordinator urged the state government to pay the 11-month salary arrears owed to ABSU lecturers. “We are not negotiating any part of that salary because we have worked, taught students, examined them, and some have graduated,” she said.

She called for the discontinuation of the Treasury Single Account for ABSU lecturers’ salaries and the resolution of recent inconsistencies in salary payments. Uduk noted that the state government is owing salaries for April, May, and June.

“Let the Abia Government leave salary payments in the hands of university administrators, but it can still perform its oversight functions as far as ABSU is concerned,” she added.

Uduk also highlighted the plight of ASUU members at Ebonyi State University, who have been suspended without salary for over two years, urging the Ebonyi governor to reinstate them immediately.

The ongoing interface with stakeholders, including parents, children, and traditional rulers, aims to encourage Nigerians to appeal to the government to address ASUU’s demands. Otherwise, ASUU will proceed with a strike in two weeks.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the union had earlier held an interactive session with critical stakeholders.