It has been one day one trouble as the nation’s leadership grapples with a deluge of challenges with the latest being another 14-day ultimatum issued by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to the Federal Government to resolve ongoing issues affecting the public university system.
During a press conference in Owerri on Monday, September 30, ASUU zonal coordinator Dr. Dennis Aribodor stated that the Federal Government’s inaction has worsened crises within public universities, noting, “Lecturers are hungry and angry.”
Key issues highlighted by Dr. Aribodor include the need to renegotiate the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021, the payment of three-and-a-half months’ withheld salaries from the 2022 strike, and the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments impacted by IPPIS.
Additional concerns involve outstanding third-party deductions, funding for the revitalization of public universities, the payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), measures to prevent the proliferation of universities, the implementation of visitation panel reports, and the acceptance of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a replacement for IPPIS.
Dr. Aribodor maintained that ASUU remains committed to dialogue and collective bargaining. However, he warned that the union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony arising from the government’s failure to address these issues.
“In view of the foregoing, ASUU has resolved to give the Nigerian Government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, beginning from Monday, 23 September 2024 during which all the lingering issues should be satisfactorily addressed. ASUU should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony that may arise from the government’s failure to seize the new opportunity offered by ASUU to nip the looming crisis in the bud.
“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on governments to address these outstanding issues,” Dr. Aribodor said.
The union also urged the Anambra and Imo State governments to address the welfare issues of its members at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, and Imo State University, Owerri.