The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a two-month ultimatum to the Federal Government to fulfill all its outstanding demands.
Failure to do so will result in the union resorting to all legitimate means, including invoking a ‘no pay, no work’ policy, to enforce compliance.
During a press conference held by the Lagos State Zone of ASUU at the University of Lagos, Zonal Coordinator Adelaja Odukoya warned that Nigeria is on the brink of collapse.
He emphasised that despite numerous promises, the government has repeatedly failed to honour its commitments to the union. These unfulfilled promises include the renegotiation of the FGN/ASUU 2009 agreement, non-release of withheld salaries and arrears of Earned Academic Allowances, inadequate funding of universities, unchecked proliferation of universities, and issues with the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.
At the recent ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on May 11-12, held at Obafemi Awolowo University, the union resolved to give the government a two-month deadline to address all demands. Odukoya asserted that ASUU will not stand by and watch as politicians undermine the development of Nigeria’s public universities.
He described the underfunding of universities as a deliberate strategy to keep the country underdeveloped, aligning with the neoliberal agendas of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
“The transformation of our universities into entrepreneurial establishments rather than centers of innovation and advanced technology is intentional,” Odukoya stated. “ASUU rejects this entirely and calls on all well-meaning Nigerians to join our crusade for better funding for education and universities as agents of liberation.”
Odukoya also highlighted the unresolved 2009 Agreement, noting that the government’s failure to either sign the document or request a review reflects a disregard for the importance of the issues at hand. The agreement addresses not only conditions of service but also the funding of universities, university autonomy, and academic freedom. He referenced International Labour Organization conventions to support ASUU’s stance on collective bargaining and wage protection.
Former ASUU-UNILAG chairman, Dele Ashiru, reiterated that if the government’s inaction continues, the NEC will convene to decide on further actions. He called on Nigerians to hold President Bola Tinubu accountable for any ensuing crisis in the university system, emphasizing that one year is sufficient time to begin addressing the shortcomings inherited from the previous administration.
ASUU’s ultimatum underscores the critical need for immediate and comprehensive action to resolve the long-standing issues plaguing Nigeria’s university system.
