THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its demands.
This latest warning followed a similar ultimatum it issued in May to the federal government.
ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, in a statement on Wednesday, September 25, warned that failure to address the demands could lead to an industrial crisis.
He expressed frustration over the government’s failure to address the lecturers’ demands, adding the government used “delay tactics” to deal with its members.
He noted that the federal government’s lack of commitment was affecting the nation’s university system.
“In view of the foregoing, ASUU resolves to give the Nigerian government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, beginning from Monday, September 23, 2024, during which all the lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the membership of the union.
“The union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony that arises from the government’s failure to seize the new opportunity offered by ASUU to nip the looming crisis in the bud,” Osodeke said.
The ICIR reported ASUU’s demands to include renegotiating the 2009 federal government and ASUU agreement, providing revitalisation funds for public universities, paying all earned academic allowances and withheld salaries, and addressing promotion arrears.
The union is also demanding the payment of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.
Other issues raised by ASUU include the proliferation of public universities, the non-payment of arrears of earned academic allowances and non-release of owed salaries, “creeping fascism” in some Nigerian universities and core curriculum minimum academic standard.
Meanwhile, should the strike hold, it will be ASUU’s first industrial action under the Tinubu administration since he assumed power on May 29, 2023.
The union went on strike five times in five years under Buhari.
The group was on strike in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022. However, a hitch-free academic year was recorded in 2023.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M