The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed alarm over the failure of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to fulfill promises made to address ongoing issues that prompted the recent nationwide strike.
During a press conference in Umuahia, Abia State, ASUU’s National President, Emmanuel Osodeke, highlighted the union’s apprehension regarding the government’s unmet pledges, following a comprehensive review conducted after its National Executive Council meeting at the Niger Delta University.
Osodeke emphasized ASUU’s commitment to addressing the deteriorating living and working conditions within Nigeria’s public universities and the nation as a whole. He highlighted concerns about the increasing number of academics facing life-threatening ailments due to work-related stress and economic hardship resulting from failed promises and the country’s challenging macroeconomic climate.
The union reviewed various issues, including the renegotiation of the FGN/ASUU 2009 agreement, salary arrears, dissolution of governing councils, the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), core curriculum standards, university proliferation, and socio-economic challenges.
Regarding the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, Osodeke noted the absence of renegotiation for 15 years and criticized the government’s evasiveness concerning the payment of earned academic allowances, despite allocations in the 2023 budget.
ASUU expressed frustration over the need for strike action to compel the government to release funds already budgeted for lecturers’ entitlements. Osodeke also urged the government to expedite the implementation of a minimum living wage, echoing the demands of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
Additionally, ASUU called for a review of IMF/World Bank economic policies that exacerbate the country’s socio-economic crisis and contribute to declining living standards among Nigerians.
The union’s stance underscores its determination to hold the government accountable for addressing critical issues affecting university education and national development.
