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ASUU Threatens New Strike; See Few Week Ultimatum Issue to Federal Government

Published by Tope Fakinlede on June 19th, 2024.

ASUU Threatens New Strike; See Few Week Ultimatum Issue to Federal Government

ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a three-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to address its demands, warning of a potential strike.

Comrade Salim Ahmed, Chairperson of ASUU’s Federal University Dutse (FUD) branch in Jigawa State, issued the warning during an emergency press conference at the FUD ASUU Secretariat in Dutse.

He stated, “Members of the Expanded Executive Officers of the ASUU Federal University Dutse met today, Wednesday, 19th June 2024, to review the Union’s engagements with the Federal and State governments regarding the persistent issues affecting Nigerian public universities.”

According to Ahmed, the current administration has deliberately ignored ASUU’s leadership since taking office on May 29, 2023. Despite repeated efforts by the Union to initiate dialogue in line with the International Labour Organization’s principle of collective bargaining, these attempts have failed.

Ahmed emphasized that the renegotiation of the FGN/ASUU 2009 agreement addresses core issues such as ASUU members’ welfare, university autonomy, funding for revitalization, and the proliferation of public universities. He highlighted that conditions of service, including issues outlined in the FGN/ASUU MoU 2012/2013 and the MoA of 2017, have been neglected. These include the illegal dissolution of governing councils in federal and state universities, the release of withheld salaries, and the unpaid salaries of members on sabbatical due to IPPIS inefficiencies. Additional demands include the release of third-party deductions by IPPIS, payment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), implementation of visitation panel reports, and the adoption of UTAS in place of IPPIS.

Ahmed asserted, “Our branch members, like those in other branches, believe the Federal Government is unwilling to address these issues. In line with directives from the National Secretariat, we resolved to inform parents and stakeholders about the government’s failure to resolve these lingering issues.”

He warned that within the next three weeks, ASUU would mobilize its members and prepare for further action, urging all concerned individuals to press the government to address the union’s demands and avert an avoidable crisis in the already struggling university system.