The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the Federal Government (FG) a 14-day ultimatum to resolve several outstanding issues and meet their demands.
Among other demands, the Union is seeking conclusion of the renegotiation on the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021.
It is also demanding for release of withheld salaries due to strike it embarked upon in 2022.
ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke in a statement issued on Wednesday expressed disappointment with the government’s lack of commitment and delay tactics towards it’s promises.
“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,” Osodeke said.
He added: “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,” he added.
ASUU is also demanding payment of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and the payment of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.
The union is also demanding funding for revitalization of public universities, partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget as well as payment of Earned Academic Allowances partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget.
Other lingering issues include proliferation of universities by Federal and State Governments, implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities, reversal of the illegal dissolution of governing councils, as well as adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution as a replacement for IPPIS.
