The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern warning that it will resume its nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands before the expiration of its one-month ultimatum.
Speaking to journalists in Kano on Tuesday, Nov. 18, ASUU’s Kano Zonal Coordinator, Abdulkadir Muhammad, said the government has shown “sluggishness” in renegotiating long-standing agreements meant to improve the welfare of lecturers and the condition of public universities.
“Our hope is being dashed” — ASUU
Muhammad explained that ASUU suspended its warning strike in October as a gesture of goodwill, but the union is disappointed by the slow progress.
He stated:
“However, our hope for a holistic and timely resolution of the issues is increasingly being dashed. It is unfortunate that some government functionaries employ different tactics to undermine the renegotiation process.”
He added that the government has not shown genuine commitment to addressing poor working conditions or stopping the growing brain drain in the university system.
According to him:
“What government has offered will neither improve the working conditions of academics nor attract scholars from other countries to our universities.”
Benin and Calabar Zones Join Warning
The Benin Zone of ASUU also declared readiness to join the strike once the National Executive Council (NEC) gives the order.
Zonal Coordinator Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen described the government's attitude as “wicked and inhumane,” noting that lecturers have been on the same salary scale for over 15 years.
Similarly, in Calabar, the Calabar Zonal Coordinator, Ikechukwu Igwenyi, warned that ASUU would not hesitate to down tools again if the Federal Government continues to ignore its demands.
He said:
“We demand the completion of renegotiation and full implementation of agreements with timelines, as well as fair remuneration and improved work conditions.”
ASUU’s Key Demands
The union listed several unresolved issues, including:
-
Release of 3½ months outstanding salaries and all withheld salaries
-
Refund of all third-party deductions
-
Payment of arrears of promotion
-
Payment of outstanding 25–35% wage award
-
Increased budgetary allocation to education
-
Respect for university autonomy
-
Sustainable funding for Nigerian universities
-
Moratorium on new state universities without adequate funding
Final Warning
ASUU says the next steps depend on the government’s response within the given timeframe.
In its statement, the union stressed:
“We gave the government a four-week ultimatum… We shall remain unbowed, unbroken, and unwavering in this just struggle.”
If no agreement is reached, Nigeria’s public universities may once again be plunged into a nationwide shutdown.
No comments:
Post a Comment