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The Academic Staff Union of Universities, representing the Nsukka Zone, has raised significant alarms regarding the Federal Government’s failure to rectify ongoing issues that have long plagued universities.
The union’s leadership has warned that should these challenges continue to be neglected, they may have no choice but to initiate another strike, further jeopardizing the educational environment.
Raphael Amokaha, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Nsukka Zone, conveyed this important information in an official statement released in Makurdi on Wednesday, shedding light on the urgent issues facing the university system.
He remarked that the Union’s restraint in pursuing industrial action since the suspension of the 2022 strike illustrates a commendable level of patriotism and selflessness, highlighting their ongoing commitment to the welfare of the nation’s educational institutions.
In light of this, the Federal Government’s ongoing neglect of the education sector is pushing ASUU to seriously weigh the option of another strike, highlighting the urgency of addressing the pressing challenges facing the academic community.
“The Union has bent backwards to avoid industrial disharmony in our public universities by seeking an amicable resolution of the issues in contention,” Amokaha said.
Reflecting on the circumstances that led to the 2022 strike, Amokaha recounted how the Union had been left with no choice after the government brushed aside a negotiated agreement and instead imposed a “take it or leave it” offer.
He added that despite years of negotiations, little progress has been made in addressing the core issues affecting Nigerian universities.
“We were forced into the 2022 strike by the government. What option was available to our union at that time? We had negotiated a reviewed agreement over five years (2017-2022) under three government-appointed negotiation chairmen, yet the government dismissed it and offered a unilateral award,” he explained.
The ASUU zonal coordinator also lamented the continued deterioration of the nation’s universities, stating that nothing has changed for the institutions or their staff in the past fifteen years.
“All efforts by our Union to halt the decay and revitalize our universities have been frustrated by the government. Efforts to improve the welfare of our members have equally been blocked,” he added.
Read also: ASUU To Strike After Expiration Of 21-day Ultimatum To FG
Amokaha highlighted that university workers remain the only group of employees in Nigeria that have not had a salary review in over fifteen years.
“We have consistently held press conferences, staged protests, and organized town hall meetings to avoid strikes and impress upon the government the need to act. Unfortunately, all these efforts have been futile,” he lamented.
He warned that unless the Federal Government is sincere in its discussions with ASUU and takes immediate steps to resolve the lingering issues, the Union may have no option but to embark on anoAmong the essential demands articulated by Amokaha are the immediate finalization of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, following the framework suggested by the Nimi Briggs Committee.
Additionally, the Union is calling for the release of salaries that have been unjustly withheld due to the 2022 strike, and for the remuneration of unpaid salaries for staff members on sabbatical as well as those in part-time and adjunct positions affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
