Following the expiration of the 21-day strike notice to the federal government, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued another 14-day ultimatum to the government of President Bola Tinubu to urgently and deliberately resolve issues affecting public university lecturers in the country.
ASUU threatened to embark on strike upon the expiration of the new ultimatum, warning that members should not be held liable if university education in the country is once again shut down.
The association accused the Tinubu’s government of employing delay tactics as well as refusing to dailoque with the union on issues affecting the welfare of lecturers in the country.
Recall that the government and ASUU had earlier agreed to set up a committee to look at the demands of the union in their last meeting, this, the government has decline to honour, the Union said.
The fresh 14-day ultimatum was contained in a statement on Wednesday signed by ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke.
Osodeke expressed frustration with the government’s lack of commitment and delay tactics, noting that the actions were fueling a crisis in the public university system.
The statement read: “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.”
The union is demanding the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021 and the payment of salaries withheld due to the union’s eight-month industrial action in 2022.
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ASUU is also demanding the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, and the payment of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.
The union is also seeking funding for the revitalisation of public universities and the payment of Earned Academic Allowances partly captured in the 2023 budget.
Other issues include the proliferation of universities by federal and state governments, the implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities, the reversal of the illegal dissolution of governing councils, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution as a replacement for IPPIS.
