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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the Federal Government to utilize the remaining 10 days of the one-month period granted to fully address persistent issues impacting the university system.
This appeal followed resolutions made during the union’s National Executive Council meeting, which took place at Taraba State University in Jalingo from November 8 to 9.
In a statement, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, emphasized that this warning was necessary as some government officials were “undermining the negotiation process” by making remarks that misrepresented government offers and the status of their implementation.
ASUU had suspended its two-week warning strike on October 22, granting the government until November 22 to fulfill key demands. These demands include a review of the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement, payment of outstanding salaries and earned allowances, and the release of the university revitalization fund.
The union cautioned that it would resume industrial action without prior notice if substantial measures were not taken.
Prof. Piwuna stated that the part-payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2017 and the release of third-party deductions were merely gestures to boost confidence and did not address the core issues under negotiation. He highlighted that while some progress had been made in non-monetary aspects, salary and welfare issues necessitated a more radical approach.
The union asserted that the primary challenge is the lack of political will to prioritize education, insisting that academics deserve improved living and working conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are ASUU's main demands from the Federal Government?
ASUU's main demands include a review of the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement, payment of outstanding salaries and earned allowances, and the release of the university revitalization fund.
What actions might ASUU take if their demands are not met?
If substantial actions are not taken, ASUU has warned that they would resume industrial action without prior notice.
Why does ASUU believe there is a lack of political will regarding education?
ASUU believes there is a lack of political will to prioritize education, which they argue results in inadequate living and working conditions for academics.
